dun":27cmlmvp said:Glove 4 cents
Sheath 3 cents
Talcun poweder so the glove is easier to put on 1/10 cent
Lubricant (mineral oil) 1/2 cent
semen 15-25 dollars
TGCJ7":21bwbfl1 said:I tried searching this but AI was too common, I'm sure it has been asked before.
So. What is your total cost to AI?
It would help if you itemized your costs for me.
Thanks a Lot
Tim
Until a couple of years ago we didn;t either. But the manipulation is getting harder to do so we AI once then turn them in with the bull. Some cows are strictly meat makers and they go with the bull without AI.TexasBred":ioxd2e8l said:Cypress we don't keep a bull on the place. Just watch for that little 3-4 month old "bull" calf to show us who's cycleing and AI again if necessary. There's always one of those little guys who thinks he's a man. ;-)
TexasBred":1t0kw2l2 said:dun that sounds about like ours except we save the 1/10 cent on talcum...
Sure there are other costs involved. Everything else considered in, I still think you would be much further ahead money-wise and genetically by AIing.redcowsrule33":160xi7nh said:No one seems to value their time (just because no one else does doesn't mean you shouldn't ;-) ) Labor costs, even if it's your own, are usually quite high especially if you synch.
Then we pay for a technician to AI for us @ $8 a head. You can say all you want for doing it yourself, but I only AI ~20/year and he does well over 10,000. It is worth the money to me.
If you wanted to get really picky there's the maintenance of the tank, facilities, etc.
This year I came close to adding in the cost of a bull calf and my marriage, but that's a long story. :lol2:
A good article from MSU:
http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/145 ... ttle-herds