Artificial Insemination

by: Allison Romzek

Good afternoon honorable judges, fellow FFA members and guests. My name is

Allison Romzek and I am proudly representing the Ubly FFA in the Jr. High public speaking

contest with my speech entitled artificial insemination in cattle.

Today most farmers want the best cow on their farm. They can create an

outstanding animal by purchasing semen from across the nation. Genetics can be purchased from

other parts of the world by one click of a button on the internet. Most farmers choose to pay

around $25 for a straw of semen rather than keeping a bull on the farm year round.

Artificial insemination is getting more and more popular each day. The first

successful test was done in 1678 and was performed on a dog. Over 80% of farmers artificially

inseminate their cattle. There are many advantages to artificial insemination or AI in cattle.

When you perform AI you decrease the possibility of injuring a small heifer. You can hand

select the semen you would like which leads to better genetics. Semen can be imported from

anywhere in the country and the semen can be also exported.One semen sample produces many

straws of semen to be used on many cows. Around the world farmers also have the option of

having a heifer or a bull by using sexed semen. Sexed semen allows you to decide if you want a

male or a female offspring. AI allows you to have more valuable offspring because you can

breed a cow to have a bull with desirable characteristics. Another benefit from artificial

insemination is not having the costs of having to take care of a bull or having the risk of injury. It

gives you the chance to check the semen and make sure that has good quality. The progeny test

is useful in your estimated production records. The semen can be used in a specific uterine horn

of the cow in the case that one is sterile. It helps keep good and accurate records of semen

deposits and births. The older cows can still be bred using AI because natural reproduction would be very hard on the weaker cows bones and muscles.

Before you do any type of artificial insemination you have to be supplied with the

right knowledge. There are many different types of classes you can take to learn AI; once you are

trained to do AI you have to get the necessary tools. Some of the tools you use are the insemination gun, shoulder length rubber gloves, also known as breeders gloves, and some kind

of sanitation product. The supplies and tools need to be dry and clean at all times.

Before insemination the semen is needed. The bull mounts a teaser and the operator

directs the penis to the artificial vagina and the bull gives a thrust to ejaculate. Later the semen

will be evaluated, to make sure it is viable. Then the semen will be frozen for later use. Most

semen prices vary anywhere from fifteen dollars to seventy-five dollars per straw.

There are several steps to the insemination process. The semen must first be thawed.

While it is being thawed the inseminator must sanitize the tools with rubbing alcohol. They will

check the records to determine which straw will be used. Next you have to load the insemination

gun with the straw. You have to wipe the vulva before inserting the insemination gun. Using

your left hand insert the gun at a 30 degree angle and inject at the tip of the cervical junction.

Some breeders prefer to use a timed schedule. Beef heifers begin to cycle between the

ages of 12 and 16 months. They then cycle every 21 days. Once a female comes into heat the

cow must be bred within 12 hours of the first sign of heat.

As promising as artificial insemination is, it does have some disadvantages, if you want

to inseminate your own cows you have to have proper training or hire another qualified

professional. The market for live bulls will be reduced. Semen from desirable bulls can be

expensive. Sexed semen is also much more expensive than regular semen.

Artificial insemination is very popular and will continue to spread. I think that artificial

insemination is a beneficial way to reproduce in cattle especially when it comes to cutting costs

on the farm.