Publish date: 7.30.25
With the right genetics aimed at your specific goals, artificial insemination (A.I.) and synchronization have the power to unlock your herd’s potential. While it may seem like putting them to work in your herd is just out of reach, the tools are more affordable and easier to access than ever before. The days of buying the best genetics at a live production sale are not over, but the accessibility to those same high-quality sires has changed because of A.I.
Artificial insemination continues to level the playing field within the industry. With A.I., your females can be mated to the top sires in the industry, regardless of their genetic makeup. Whether you’re a producer in the seedstock, commercial, and showring sectors, A.I. gives you the chance to make every mating in your herd count. This tool can have a massive impact on the productivity of your herd and your profitability.
4 Reasons to Implement A.I.
- Improving reproductive management and efficiency
- Maintaining efficiently, productive herds
- Accessing the best genetics in the world at an affordable price
- Unleashing the power of heterosis and breed complementarity
Added work, facility costs, and stress concerns remain the primary concerns for a majority of producers regarding A.I., and they’re valid. However, these barriers can be overcome through the implementation of sound stockmanship practices. Don’t let these perceived barriers hold your herd back from reaching its full potential. Ultimately, when you put pen to paper, you’ll find that a pregnancy created via A.I. can range from a cost equal to that of turning out a cleaning bull to one that is significantly cheaper if you are buying sale-topping, high genetic-merit bulls.
Access to Genetic Superstars
Regardless of the sector of the industry your herd is focused in, access to the highest quality genetics the industry has to offer is the main reason a producer should want to incorporate A.I. Seedstock and club calf breeders have long recognized and capitalized on the value of A.I and genetic selection. These producers tend to utilize A.I. at the highest rate to leverage the marketability of name recognition and deliver the most genetic value to their customers.
On the other hand, commercial ranchers often focus their bull buying strategy on sourcing sons of a particular A.I. sire or household name for traits like Calving ease and Maternal Merit. This approach helps ranchers generate consistent calf crops backed by strong and reliable genetic merit.
But what if half or more of your calf crop were sired by the genetic superstar himself, instead of his sons? Or what if, rather than potentially diluting the genetic merit of that proven maternal bull, you could keep actual daughters of the bull, ensuring you reap the direct impact of his genetics in your herd? The answer to your ‘what if’ questions is where the power of A.I. and genetic selection comes in.
Through A.I. and strategic genetic selection, you can do both of those things above plus influence the gender of the resulting calf crop through sexed semen. You can use the genetic superstars without breaking the piggy bank because semen from the very best bulls in the beef industry is available to the general public at a very affordable price point. Whether your goal is to develop a more valuable, long-lasting, and productive herd, generate more Calving Ease and maternally oriented bulls for your customers, or create a more uniform set of feeders with improved carcass quality, genetics, A.I, and synchronization protocols are your tools to achieve just that.
We fully recognize that there are cows that are simply managed in a manner or live in a geography that will never allow for them to be A.I.-bred. However, if a portion of your cow herd is accessible for A.I. during the breeding season, we highly encourage you to reconsider the value that genetics and A.I. could unlock within your herd.
Learn more about unlocking your herd’s potential by reading our article originally published in Progressive Cattle.
Want to expand the genetic potential of your herd through genetics, A.I., and synchronization? Contact your ABS Representative or complete the form below!
