While still considering learning to AI myself, for this year I got with a fellow who owns and operates a dairy, and lives about 4 miles from me. It's working out real well -- as soon as I notice one of the cow's starting to "act frisky" I call and leave a message on his answering machine letting him know that it's almost time. I call him again when the cow goes into standing heat, and he comes over and AI's her within in the next 12 hours.
Personally though, I would like to learn to do it myself -- my thinking being that not only would it easier with my tiny herd (5 animals), but I could also help my dad with the development of his Registered Red Angus herd by AI'ing some of his cows to superior bulls.
Ann B
> The basic equipment to actually AI
> is not expensive. The nitrogen
> refrigerator (semen tank) is
> expensive but you may be able to
> store the semen in somebody elses
> tank. You can do it yourself, but,
> you need to attend a good school
> to learn how. For a single cow you
> may be able to get a local vet to
> do the breeding for you, or a
> local dairy, or even the local
> semen supplier.
> dunmovin farms
