Semen collection... I learned a lot.

Help Support CattleToday:

N

NEFarmwife

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
1,172
Reaction score
6
Location
"The Good Life"
Took our bull to a stud facility today.

The owner of the facility chatted with me for around an hour and discussed the entire operation. Straight down to the stamping on the straws.

Had to pick some semen up from there as well and was in awe of the massive tanks.

Was so informative. Learned a lot about the semen quality and what they'll freeze. How often they'll jump. What they pack their straws at. Etc...

I'd love to tour bigger stud facilities and look at bulls. Maybe that can be my "quit smoking" reward?
 
I visit the Genex collection facility in Stafford, MO several times a year. My oldest daughter worked there for a bit. Amazing the things you learn! I have had two bulls collected, so I know the procedure. I like looking at the known bulls at stud there. If one is close, I highly recommend visiting a bull stud collection facility!
 
Fire Sweep Ranch said:
I visit the Genex collection facility in Stafford, MO several times a year. My oldest daughter worked there for a bit. Amazing the things you learn! I have had two bulls collected, so I know the procedure. I like looking at the known bulls at stud there. If one is close, I highly recommend visiting a bull stud collection facility!
Click to expand...

MO ain't far but not sure where Stafford is. I'll have to look them up. I wouldn't mind going out to ORIgen either.
 
ABS in DeForest, Wi. impressed me as the cleanest barn and facilities that I've toured.
But that was back in the '80s.

In the 80s - early 90s I toured 8 of the major A.I. studs of the time.
At that time you could get up close and personal with the bulls and staff.
It's my understanding the touring rules at the major studs have since changed for security reasons.
 
One cautionary tale: We had our bulls collected successfully. Unfortunately, the facility did NOT thaw the straws and see how the semen was POST freezing and thawing. Not all semen is effective after freezing. PLEASE always have a sample of your straws thawed and looked at for sperm concentration, motility, morphology, etc.
 
I can't say I had a favorite all were enjoyable. The rules had changed we went in 2009 and were allowed to go on our own, if we wanted to go in a pen with a bull we could. Fast forward to 2017 and rules have changed You are escorted around no going in pens. I totally understand with bio security issues and liability I sure don't blame them, but how I long for the good old days.

Gizmom
 
Out of curiosity what does it cost to get a bull collected?

How many straws do you get from a collection?
 
hornedfrogbbq said:
One cautionary tale: We had our bulls collected successfully. Unfortunately, the facility did NOT thaw the straws and see how the semen was POST freezing and thawing. Not all semen is effective after freezing. PLEASE always have a sample of your straws thawed and looked at for sperm concentration, motility, morphology, etc.
Click to expand...

We discussed that the other day. The bull is staying there and will be collected multiple times but we stuck around to make sure everything was on the up and up. We had already did his BSE prior to taking him but we needed some feedback from the collection. They assured us they'll freeze, thaw, test.

While this was my first time at a stud, my husband has taken a few there in years past. I actually took the day off work to ride with. Explain that one to your boss. :cowboy:
 
kentuckyguy said:
Out of curiosity what does it cost to get a bull collected?

How many straws do you get from a collection?
Click to expand...

A lot of factors. One day jump? First time collecting? Tests?

The first day he was there, while we waited... they had him jump 3 times. He's a yearling. His 3rd time, wasn't even worth freezing. He'll get a few days off and jump again.

Straws average (with all figures) just about $3.50 a straw. Chump change when you're spending $30-$40 a straw elsewhere. The more you collect, the cheaper the straws are. This bull (if he is everything he is on paper) will greatly benefit our commercial operation.
 
Thanks for the info

I'd like to tour a collection facility sometime. Select sites is pretty close.
 
We are in North Texas and we hauled all the way to Stillwater to REI. We have our best bull up there now. Collecting him was cheaper than insurance on him.
 
My wife and I toured the ABS stud farm years ago when we were in the dairy business. They had a tour leaving the world dairy expo in Madison WI about every two hours. We both were very impressed with the whole tour. We would like to tour it now that we are in the hobby beef business but we heard the tours are very limited now. we quit milking in 98 so we probably toured in late 80s or early 90s also. I would probably tour the Origen facility if I get the chance.
 
gizmom said:
It is eye opening for sure to go to the big studs.

Gizmom
Click to expand...

And to think that some folks believe that the bulls there are all "commotion and promotion"

I don't think all that effort goes into collecting on duds.
 
Branded

I highly recommend visiting studs and operations. I don't like to use a bull unless I have seen progeny or the bull himself. I will also go on record as saying I have seen bulls at AI studs that I would have culled for disposition or feet, but that is just one old ladies opinion, I am sure they are making a bunch of money on the bull, and could give a rats butt what I think. It is our responsibility as breeders to do our own homework.

gizmom
 
I'd love to go tour select sires. Has anyone done it? How many bulls that are in the catalogue could I expect to be there to view?
 
T & B

The studs have the bulls scheduled. You can contact them to see if certain bulls will be on site, I know this is true for Genex and ORIgen but not certain about Select Sires.

Gizmom
 
I'd really like to go and see how a bull is collected. We've just never had the opportunity to do so yet.
gizmom said:
Branded

I highly recommend visiting studs and operations. I don't like to use a bull unless I have seen progeny or the bull himself. I will also go on record as saying I have seen bulls at AI studs that I would have culled for disposition or feet, but that is just one old ladies opinion, I am sure they are making a bunch of money on the bull, and could give a rats butt what I think. It is our responsibility as breeders to do our own homework.

gizmom
Click to expand...

I'd like to see how they collect, test and freeze a bull. For some reason we've just never done that yet. Your young bulls are as good as ANYWHERE I've ever been. You can't compare the wow factor of looking at a mature 5 - 6 year old bull a to yearling bull. Most folks can see the eye candy, but can't see recipe to get there.
 

Similar threads

S
Collection costs
Replies
14
Views
846
TexasJerseyMilker
TexasJerseyMilker
gizmom
Stolen semen tank
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
gizmom
gizmom
E
Semen for 24
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
W.B.
W
B
storage of semen/embryo tanks
Replies
2
Views
454
frieghttrain
frieghttrain
S
IVF vs Conventional Embryo collection
Replies
1
Views
689
SBMF 2015
SBMF 2015

Latest posts

Top