For smaller producers, having access to advanced reproductive technology can feel like a hassle and often limit their genetic options during breeding season. From understanding synchronization protocols to ordering and storing semen to heat detections and artificially inseminating their cows, the process may seem inconvenient at first. The biggest benefit artificial insemination (AI) offers producers is being cost-effective and easily accessible.
“The price comparison of using AI versus buying a bull is one of the biggest benefits,” says Christian Lewis of Lewis Cattle Services LLC. “With AI, we can get all cows exposed for around $60 to $70 per head, depending on semen price. There are a lot of high-quality bulls with semen available for less than $50 per straw. We can also mate cows individually. AI-bred cows and AI-sired calves generally bring more at sale barns.”
Lewis offers a variety of reproductive services to producers looking to improve their genetics without breaking the bank. After growing up on a small feedlot and grain farm in South Dakota and earning an animal science degree, he went to work for Select Sires in Minnesota.
“I got introduced to AI while working at a purebred Charolais operation after college,” he says. “I wanted to be more involved with AI so I got a job with Select Sires and I was a large herd dairy technician for them for five years. I helped progressive dairies over 1,500 cows with genetic selection, reproductive management as well as AI.”
Now, Lewis resides in Redfield, S.D., and offers AI, embryo transfer (ET), estrous synchronization and ultrasound services to local cattle producers. His typical customers are looking to build on their genetics without sacrificing structure and functionality, and reproductive services like AI allow a larger genetic pool to select from.
Anton Hermes of Hermes Livestock in Colorado and his brother, Derek Hermes, who operates Hermes Genetics, travel and breed around 10,000 to 12,000 head a year with their AI services.
“The energy to upgrade your genetics in one generation is probably the most valuable tool or asset that we have, especially in a small herd,” Anton says. “If you want to go buy those calving-ease bulls, they are very expensive. You can buy those genetics a lot cheaper than you can buy the bull. That straw of semen is going to cost $20 to $30 and the process of AI, it is so much simpler than people think.”
An ABS Global representative, the majority of the genetics Anton recommends and uses to breed customer heifers are ABS sires. Both ABS Global and Select Sires serve dairy and beef producers with genetic and reproductive technologies. For Anton, many customers will bring the heifers to him and he develops them in his grow yard, will AI them. He helps with majority of the mating decisions as well.
Read more about how Hermes has found success selecting and developing bred heifers and marketing them:
Building for the Long Haul: The Hermes Strategy for Premium Bred Heifers
Nutrition First: Preparing Females for a Successful Breeding Season
The first step in utilizing AI is preparing your females. Lewis says the heifer or cow needs to be at a five or six body condition score and on an increasing plane of nutrition without getting too fleshy.
“We cannot expect cows to get pregnant from AI, or from a bull, if they are losing weight going into the breeding season,” Lewis adds. “A good mineral program that includes chelated minerals is important, as well as working with a good nutritionist.”
Can I AI My Own Cows? The Path to Certification
Both Lewis and Anton recommend trying AI in your herd and even taking an AI certification class.
“I would recommend they take an AI class if they’re interested in learning to do it themselves, with the understanding that the more cattle you can get into, the more comfortable you will become,” Lewis adds. “I have told my previous AI school students that it takes about 100 head to start to feel comfortable. The best way to gain experience is to find a dairy that will let you work through its cull cows. Select Sires, ABS, Genex and Alta will put on AI schools throughout the year. Most agriculture universities have them as well with help from the major AI stud companies.”
Lewis says AI can be a great tool for producers and skill to build on.
“If any ranchers, or anyone else for that matter has any questions or is interested in knowing more, we are more than willing to speak with them,” Lewis continues. “Our services are built around each cow and each breeding season. We aren’t going to suggest anything we don’t believe in.”
Anton echoes Lewis in that there is a lot of opportunities with AI and people to share their knowledge and experience.
“Don’t be scared or intimidated to try AI for the first time because there’s a lot of opportunity out there, and the genetic enhancement is invaluable to your herd,” Anton says. “There’s plenty of guys out there like me that are willing to help.”
You can find more information about Lewis Cattle Services and Hermes Livestock on Facebook.
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