Late spring is the time of year when cattle are turned out on grass pastures and cows are grouped with the bulls for breeding.
However, for producers who want the genetic advantage of certain sires, a fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) plan may be the better option, said the experts at Kansas State University’s (K-State) Beef Cattle Institute during a recent “Cattle Chat” podcast.
Joining veterinarians Bob Larson, Brian Lubbers and Brad White was Extension beef specialist Sandy Johnson. Johnson serves on the Beef Reproduction Task Force and has done a lot of research in this area. To learn more about the protocols she references, visit beefrepro.org.
“The success of an AI breeding program starts a year in advance with how the cattle are managed nutritionally and when they calved in the prior breeding season,” Johnson said.
She said if the cattle are in good body condition and have resumed cycling prior to synchronization, the success rate of a fixed-time AI protocol is essentially the same as natural mating with a bull.
Larson added that in studies done at K-State and other universities, 60 percent to 70 percent of cows that ovulate a fertile egg and are bred by a fertile bull or with fertile AI semen will become pregnant each heat cycle—and this is the same percentage for both AI and natural breeding with a bull.
With a fixed-time AI protocol, the cows are synchronized to come into estrus through the use of hormones that mimic the natural hormones that control reproduction.
Lubbers said part of this success is dependent on the training of the person doing the artificial insemination.
“If you are doing it yourself, make sure you have training and realize that you are not going to be as proficient in breeding cows through AI as someone who does this every day,” Lubbers said.
Larson said in some large operations, producers hire an AI company to come in and do the breeding during an appointment.
“As the protocols have improved over the years, we have moved from producers doing the AI breeding to hiring that out to professionals to do,” Larson said.
Along with a skilled technician, the experts agree good cattle handling facilities are important to the success of the protocol.
“With our best fixed-time AI systems, the cattle are making three trips through the chute, with the third time being insemination,” Johnson said. White added that this handling would happen over a period of 10 days.
Another benefit, according to White, is the reduced stress for handling cattle in good working facilities.
“Lowering the stress by having good facilities to work in is beneficial for both the cattle and the people,” White said. — K-State Research and Extension
