Begining AI

[Scotty]

Looked around on some web sites about AI. Seems to me the initial cost is the biggest obsticle to overcome. Were did some of you guys start to get supplies and stuff that were economical. Like I saw a tank to hold straws that was 600. I can imagine the advantages but shoo we thats steep for a beer cooler. :lol:



Scotty

 

[jt]

Looked around on some web sites about AI. Seems to me the initial cost is the biggest obsticle to overcome. Were did some of you guys start to get supplies and stuff that were economical. Like I saw a tank to hold straws that was 600. I can imagine the advantages but shoo we thats steep for a beer cooler. :lol:



Scotty

yep, and it will probably cost close to 200 a year to keep it charged..
but... if you do enough and raise better calves, they should more than offset that additional cost.


jt

 

[jkwilson]

Looked around on some web sites about AI. Seems to me the initial cost is the biggest obsticle to overcome. Were did some of you guys start to get supplies and stuff that were economical. Like I saw a tank to hold straws that was 600. I can imagine the advantages but shoo we thats steep for a beer cooler. :lol:



Scotty

Try buying a bull of any quality for what it costs to get started in AI :shock:

 

[Scotty]

I am using a BR New design 036 X GAR Bando 522. Preaty peny for this bull. Just want to expand genetically and not have ten bulls and the national debt. Kids are wanting to start showing and breeding their own also. Went to some sales and the prices of good show heifers I thought were high.


Scotty

 

[sidney411]

Look on Ebay and in your local classifieds paper. You would be amazed at the things you can find there. Stop by a few dairy's they may have some supplies sitting around they want to sell or know of someone who does.

 

[Scotty]

Look on Ebay and in your local classifieds paper. You would be amazed at the things you can find there. Stop by a few dairy's they may have some supplies sitting around they want to sell or know of someone who does.

Thanks, that is a great idea.


Scotty

 

[bwranch]

Be careful if you go looking for a used tank. I've dealt with liquid nitrogen storage for years and the holding capacity of the tanks does diminish with age/abuse.

 

[CowCop]

Stop by a few dairy's they may have some supplies sitting around they want to sell or know of someone who does.

I bought a used tank from a dairy that went into the pudding and tapioca business and needed to expand their herd as well as get a larger tank.

Cost me $100

Holds my 20 straws very comfortably

I also see tanks listed at farm auctions and when I was looking for a tank, my local AI tech gave me a list of 10 farms that had tanks that they had for sale because they were all upgrading.

bwranch is also correct about holding capacity and age/abuse of tank.
I *think* your local tech can do a test on it. Mine did and said it should work for me for at least 4 years.

Never know what else you will find if you ask around.

Also bought a complete AI kit--with 3 guns-- for $20 from a retired dairy farmer who no longer had use for it. It had EVERYTHING and the only thing I had to replace was the rusted metal box it was all in and buy some more of them bright orange gloves and an additional "O" ring.

Hope this helps.

 

[ottersbro]

i took an AI course through genex in january, the cost was $400 which included i day of classroom and 3 days of hands on at a local stockyard.
by paying the $400.00 up front i was also given $400.00 worth of semen of my choice. at the end of the class they offered mve 20 tanks at a price of $475.00 which i bought at this time. two weeks after this their field rep came by the farm and filled the tank and also took orders for supplies.

if you can find a company that gives you this kind of service it is worth the time and investment.

 

[polledbull]

There are certianly some bargains out there. I bought a semen tank from ebay and it was a good tank. shipping was high I thought , like 42.00$ . I paid about 275.00 for it and it was about 5 years old. I could have bought the same tank from my Semen rep brand new for 475.00$ , he would bring it and a 5 year warranty. Some of the tanks on ebay are very old , in fact like 20 years old . You dont want a tank that old to put you semen or embryo investment in . Those tanks are just not dependable and if you have to fill it more often , it will just cost you more to own it. Sometimes the cheapest ends up costing the most. Some of those old silver MVE Apollo and Orion and Taylor -Wharton tanks on ebay are 20-30 years old. Just be careful .

 

[Scotty]

I looked on ebay and could not find any thing but trailers relaited to agriculture. Where did I go wrong. I am going to continue to look but could someone help.


Scotty

 

[polledbull]

go to businesss and industrial on the home page , then go to agricluture , go down to livestock supplies and that will bring several choices , vet supplies, beef , dairy ect..
good luck

 

[la4angus]

I can imagine the advantages but shoo we thats steep for a beer cooler. :lol:
Scotty

Is it to steep to preserve several thousand $$$ worth of semen and embryos.

 

[Scotty]

Don't have the animals to justify thousands of dollars in semen and embrios, so yes. I wish however I could justify it. I get what you are saying and really no its not.


Scotty

 

[la4angus]

Don't have the animals to justify thousands of dollars in semen and embrios, so yes. I wish however I could justify it. I get what you are saying and really no its not.
Scotty

I don't know your plans, but just stop and think about it. 20 straws of semen @ $20.00 for this breeding season. That's $400.00. You decide to implant 3 cows with embryos, they can cost between $250.00 and $500.00 each.. That's another $750.00 to $1500.00. That is for one year only. Multiply that by 10 yrs.
You buy a used, questionable tank for $250.00and it looses nitrogen faster than expected. You have lost the semen and embryos. You could spend another $250.00 to $350.00 and have a new tank that should last for several years. The first $250.00 would already have been spent on the used tank so the additional $350.00 would be the cost of the new tank.
As you get bigger it would be easy to have several different bulls in the tank worth $20.00 to $40.00 per each straw, and could easily have a total value of $5000.00 or more.

 

[Scotty]

Your right I havn't began to look that way. Actually the cost doesn't scare me with the benefits I have heard AI brings to an operation. The one thing I know is if I am going to were I want to be genetically I am going to have to take that step. Thanks for all of your help.


Scotty

 

[jt]

Your right I havn't began to look that way. Actually the cost doesn't scare me with the benefits I have heard AI brings to an operation. The one thing I know is if I am going to were I want to be genetically I am going to have to take that step. Thanks for all of your help.


Scotty

scotty, that is the same boat i am in at the moment... i know to improve, i am going to have to go the ai route.

jt