Laura AI'ing a cow.
So, you’re having trouble locating someone to Artificially Inseminate (A.I.) your cattle? You have tried several technicians but with no luck? Well, you can learn to do it yourself! We did…and so can you!
In 2002, we began utilizing A.I. in our small cattle herd. My wife, Laura, wanted to know how she could help, because she was feeling a little left out in the whole ranching experience, so I mentioned to her about learning to artificially inseminate our cows. Because she was a science teacher, and never fearing a new experience, she said “SURE, let’s do it!” This is the point in which the quality of our cattle herd, and our partnership, changed forever!
The first step is to find an A.I. class that is near you and that will fit within your work schedule.
We located a class taught by American Breeder Service (ABS), at our local sale barn, and took the leap. Laura learned to A.I. and palpate in 3 days with intense, hands-on training that was positive, informative, and enlightening. All the participants in the class were new to A.I. and the camaraderie everyone found in each other created lifelong friendships and a network of ranchers that could communicate with each other and help out when needed. One of the key aspects to note, after taking the class, is to hit the ground running! Luckily, we had cows and heifers for her to breed, so the “feel” of the process was fresh in her mind.
The next step is “what will be YOUR protocol?” How are you going to detect heat in your cattle? Are you going to adhere heat markers to your cows and watch diligently? Are you going to use a spotter steer or bull? Are you going to use a timed heat protocol? Detecting heat is a huge factor in successfully breeding cattle through artificial insemination.
In the beginning, we had a spotter steer that was great at marking heats. He was a true gem and was very accurate. We were lucky! When he passed, we were devastated. We tried several times to find another steer that would spot our cows but with no luck. We currently use a less-than-ideal method but it seems to work for us; we breed on detection of natural heat by watching our dominant cows mount other cows and heifers. We rarely use timed protocols (no CIDR or Lutalyse) but will occasionally if we cannot seem to catch one in heat after several attempts.
What you will need:
- A semen storage tank
- Someone to fill your semen tank with liquid nitrogen every 60-90 days
- A warming bath with digital thermometer
- An A.I. gun with sheaths
- straw cutter
- A.I. lube
- Long palpation gloves
- Semen of your choice
- Positivity and a Can-Do attitude!
Laura and I watch day and night to make sure we are not missing a heat cycle. There are several different opinions on when to A.I. after standing heat. We have held to a strict “12 hours after standing heat” for inseminating and have huge, positive results in first attempts; much higher than the average so we are sticking to the 12-hour protocol! Unfortunately, that means breeding cows in the middle of the night, during a rain storm, or before heading off to work in the morning. Mother Nature does not care about your schedule.
After artificially inseminating your cow or heifer, it is time to check to see whether it worked or not! Is she pregnant?! We sure hope so!
When we started on this adventure, we used the BioPRYN blood test for our pregnancy results. This type of test required us to take a blood sample, from the tail-head, at 30 days after breeding and then mail the blood to their lab. We would receive the results in 4 days via email. It was a great system with wonderful accuracy! We now use the Idexx Alertys Chute-side Pregnancy Test. We still take a blood sample, but we obtain our results in 5 minutes. It has been a game changer!
Our A.I. Snapshot:
I research pedigrees and select which bulls to use on specific cows, I locate the perfect semen from other breeders, and how to get it delivered to our ranch. Laura does all the artificial insemination and blood testing.
Second, after identifying heat, I gather any cows needed for A.I. and put them in the chute. Laura retrieves the semen straw from our tank and places it in the warming bath. After preparing the semen straw in the A.I. gun, I hold the tail so she does not get swiped by a “manure mop”, and she goes to work. Sometimes A.I.-ing is a quick process that allows you to be in and out in a couple of minutes and other times it can take 20–30 minutes or even longer. The key is not to rush and take the time to get the semen in the correct placement. Always make sure the A.I. gun has passed carefully through the cervix, and to your target, before releasing the semen from the gun. Locating your correct placement can be difficult at times. Relax, breathe, and think through all the ways to help move the A.I. gun through the cervix. Focus on staying calm and taking your time. You got this!
As stated before, we breed on natural heat and only one time with one semen straw. We do not use multiple straws and we do not inseminate twice at different intervals. With our process, the success rate has been phenomenal at over 85% pregnancy with the first A.I. attempt. Usually, when a cow does not get bred, there is a reason. We may not be timing the heat correctly, there may have been problems with shipping or handling of the semen straws, there may be some physical issue with the cow in the reproductive tract like an infection, cyst, or other problem. Do not get discouraged!
When the calves are born, it is extra special because we were a part of the process. Just marveling in the fact that we helped create an incredible calf is mind-blowing. The calf’s pedigree is unique and very marketable due to the use of “name brand” sires. Also, we love using older bulls from the past and have had success in creating phenomenal offspring that other breeders are in search of. The sky’s the limit on what you can do with A.I. in your cattle herd.
Soon, word got out about our success rate and we were inseminating for our neighbors, large ranches, FFA kids, and just about anyone who had a small herd and did not want a bull to eat up all their grass. Along with longhorns, we have inseminated beef cattle including Angus, Brangus, Brahman, Beefmaster, South Poll, and Wagyu. We have had to cut down on inseminating for others because we would spend all of our time traveling to places to A.I. and it just gets to be too much. We now focus on our cows and a few lucky neighbors!
Side note: we have a tradition to ask our ranchers what they want, a bull or a heifer. Laura says, “heifer, heifer, heifer” or “bull, bull, bull” as she squeezes the semen into the cervix. If you believe in luck, it works!
When we started A.I., we had a Longhorn herd. Laura always says that she is glad she learned on Longhorns because they have a small cervix and she could go through those beef-breed heifers with no problem. She described navigating the Longhorn cervix as being like a trying to go through a ballpoint pen, while beef breeds were more like a football. Our herd has changed over the years. Over the years our herd shifted toward Brahman, Beefmaster, and Wagyu cattle, but our love was always with Longhorns, so we are back in the game with the purchase of 5 heifers in 2025.
After several years of perfecting our protocols, we are on the move as a well-oiled team! Our system creates a positive atmosphere for our cows to remain calm throughout the entire process, which is essential when using artificial insemination as a way to breed cattle. Calm cows, a specific protocol that fits your needs, a lot of patience, and a positive outlook will allow you to be successful in this endeavor. For 25 years now, we have been using artificial insemination on our ranch. You can do it too! Just get in there and GO FOR IT!
