Program Type

Undergraduate

Faculty Advisor

Tatum Simms

Document Type

Poster

Location

Face-to-face

Start Date

25-4-2023 11:30 AM

Abstract

Artificial insemination (AI) is a reproductive procedure widely used in cattle industries and other livestock to increase pregnancy rates. Breeders must wait until the animals are in the estrus part of their estrous cycle to AI. Estrus synchronization is utilized to manipulate the estrous cycle to go into estrus or standing heat. AI is conducted by loading a semen straw into an inseminating gun, inserting the gun into the vagina of the heifer, and making sure it gets past the cervix by palpating with the other hand. Once past the cervix, the semen can be distributed in the heifer. AI is a breeding method that comes with advantages and disadvantages. AI increases genetic variation within the herd, the farmer can choose specific bulls with superior genetics, the farmer gets to deal with fewer bulls, and it narrows the period for calving. Some disadvantages include having to invest time in synchronizing the estrus phase of the animals, and the cost that comes with the equipment and professionally skilled laborers. To conduct our research, scholarly articles were gathered by searching keywords that pertained to our topic. The results include a figure that shows the comparison between multiple reproductive procedures in beef cattle and a table that compares the pricing of AI versus natural breeding. The figure supports that adding resynchronization to the AI process during the procedure was beneficial in increasing the number of pregnancies in beef cattle by reducing the interval time between AI of each cow. However, the greatest difference was the low cumulative pregnancy rate of heifers reproducing through natural service compared to any of the other herds who went through AI. The table compares the costs between AI and natural breeding in herds. Even though less bulls are needed to be purchased when conducting AI, the total breeding costs of those using AI was higher than the natural service. However, the pregnancy rate was 5% higher for those going through AI. There are benefits to both breeding options, but it was supported that AI is more successful in mass production industries.

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Apr 25th, 11:30 AM

The Effects of Artificial Insemination on Beef Cattle in the United States

Face-to-face

Artificial insemination (AI) is a reproductive procedure widely used in cattle industries and other livestock to increase pregnancy rates. Breeders must wait until the animals are in the estrus part of their estrous cycle to AI. Estrus synchronization is utilized to manipulate the estrous cycle to go into estrus or standing heat. AI is conducted by loading a semen straw into an inseminating gun, inserting the gun into the vagina of the heifer, and making sure it gets past the cervix by palpating with the other hand. Once past the cervix, the semen can be distributed in the heifer. AI is a breeding method that comes with advantages and disadvantages. AI increases genetic variation within the herd, the farmer can choose specific bulls with superior genetics, the farmer gets to deal with fewer bulls, and it narrows the period for calving. Some disadvantages include having to invest time in synchronizing the estrus phase of the animals, and the cost that comes with the equipment and professionally skilled laborers. To conduct our research, scholarly articles were gathered by searching keywords that pertained to our topic. The results include a figure that shows the comparison between multiple reproductive procedures in beef cattle and a table that compares the pricing of AI versus natural breeding. The figure supports that adding resynchronization to the AI process during the procedure was beneficial in increasing the number of pregnancies in beef cattle by reducing the interval time between AI of each cow. However, the greatest difference was the low cumulative pregnancy rate of heifers reproducing through natural service compared to any of the other herds who went through AI. The table compares the costs between AI and natural breeding in herds. Even though less bulls are needed to be purchased when conducting AI, the total breeding costs of those using AI was higher than the natural service. However, the pregnancy rate was 5% higher for those going through AI. There are benefits to both breeding options, but it was supported that AI is more successful in mass production industries.