BARNSCOOP
Well-known member
Because I have so few cows I am considering taking an A.I. course and buying a tank. What is an average price for a tank and monthly fee? When buying semen, how few straws can you purchase?
I have purchased 20 straws of a bull and wished I had 10 of.... but it should last forever.
BARNSCOOP":336cxhs6 said:I appreciate the comments....keep them coming. Anyone know of an A.I. in my area? This maybe the way I go instead of keeping a bull all year long.
I agree that you would benefit from going to an AI class. I disagree that you should wait to breed your own stock. You learn all you need to know from the class. Sure you may learn a few pointers shadowing an AI tech. However, I started breeding my own cows immediately after taking an AI class and while my conception rates weren't exceptional, they were respectable. You only get better by diving in and tweaking your technique. I have no idea on the beef side, but with dairy semen they have a proof for fertility. It has been my experience that you are far better off buying semen from higher fertility bulls as the conception rates are noticably better over the poorer testing bulls.bigag03":259wwgja said:I would strongly advise going to AI School if for no reason other than becoming more educated about the estrous cycle and reproduction. It will help you be a better manager. Farmgirl is right...I wouldn't dive into doing all your own AI for a couple years, but I know several guys that have used their AI tech for the 1st breeding of the year then taken care of the return heats themselves. Then after a couple of years of "cleaning up" they felt confident enough to do their own work.
I would have done it the other way around and let the tech do cleanupbigag03":2bc1p215 said:novaman,
I agree that without practice you aren't going to be efficient. My experience with the "clean-up" method has been a good way to get practice without having to completely compromise conception rates.
I think you are.BARNSCOOP":29vddjse said:Well, really with the cost of buying a bull,dewormer, vaccs and feed all year long for very few cows. It is seems that I could take an A.I class, buy semen, buy a tank ,pay the service fees and still be money ahead even if It takes me a couple of months to get it right. Am I looking at it the right way?
I totally Agree !!!dun":2wsw5y7v said:I think you are.BARNSCOOP":2wsw5y7v said:Well, really with the cost of buying a bull,dewormer, vaccs and feed all year long for very few cows. It is seems that I could take an A.I class, buy semen, buy a tank ,pay the service fees and still be money ahead even if It takes me a couple of months to get it right. Am I looking at it the right way?