Costs for AI range from $40-$200 per unit of semen, with more expensive semen priced on the dam’s and sire’s estimated genetic merit. The actual breeding costs are about $20-$30 per cow/heifer. It is advisable to hire a professional A.I. technician when breeding your cow.
As soon as you detect heat in your cow or heifer, you can artificially inseminate (AI) her. However, many farmers practice what is called “Synchronized Artificial Insemination” or “Synch AI.” This protocol aims to induce the majority of your females into estrus around the same time to make it a more efficient use of the technician’s time.
A Synch AI protocol can last anywhere from 10 to 14 days. It starts with administering an injection of Gonadotropin Releasing Factor (GnRF) or a prostaglandin to induce a corpus luteum (CL) regression and bring females into estrus. It is recommended that the females are observed for standing estrus daily from 24 to 48 hours following injection. If not detected for standing estrus, the next injection of prostaglandin is given 14 days later. Another injection of GnRF is given 24 to 42 hours before fixed-time AI (FTAI).
FTAI is performed 56 to 80 hours following the last injection of GnRF. Using a Synch AI protocol improves your chances of getting your females artificially inseminated because they will all be within a narrow window of estrus. Using a Synch AI protocol results in approximately a 65% conception rate.
Heat detection
The first sign of estrus is when a cow or heifer mounts another animal. She may mount and be mounted. Sometimes, an in-heat cow will stand to let another mount her and other times she will attempt to mount other females. Other signs include:
* Standing to be ridden by another animal
* Rubbing and pushing the head against other cows
* Increased activity and restlessness
* Frequent urination
* Mounting activity
* Swelling and reddening of the vulva
* Clear, stringy discharge from the vulva
Be aware that during estrus, cows and heifers may behave somewhat aggressively toward the farmer due to the high levels of estrogen in their systems. It’s important to keep up with heat detection because, as mentioned, estrus only lasts for up to 24 hours.