Why Do Farmers Use Artificial Insemination?

Artificial insemination (A.I.) is a fast growing practice on farms big and small. The semen of a bull is extracted and stored in tubes called "straws." One straw is enough to breed one cow. Straws can be frozen and shipped anywhere in the world.

Cost

Some farmers choose to use artificial insemination to save money. A.I. eliminates the extra expense of purchasing, feeding and caring for a bull.

Selective Breeding

Using artificial insemination, farmers can choose what bull breeds each of his cows. A farmer may choose to raise several different pure breeds of cattle in a single herd, and A.I. makes this easier than the traditional method of separating herds by breed.

Timing

Using artificial insemination allows the farmer to know exactly when a cow was bred. Farmers can time the calving season around the worst hot and cold weather months.

Exhibition

Artificial insemination enables breeders to produce calves by champion bulls that are hundreds of miles away.

Inbreeding

A lot of farmers keep their heifers to replenish the breeding stock in the herd. Artificial insemination lets them keep heifers without changing the bull every year to avoid inbreeding.

References

• Artificial Insemination

Resources

• A.I. in Dairy Cattle