Specialist recommends new, affordable technology for cattle production
ALEXANDRIA, La. – An LSU AgCenter cattle expert advised owners of small cattle operations that they should consider artificial insemination with technology available to make the option affordable and easier.
At the Dean Lee Research Station Beef Cattle and Forage Field Day on Sept. 12, Glen Gentry, LSU AgCenter cattle reproductive specialist, said a survey showed that less than 5 percent of cattle owners nationwide use artificial insemination because they don’t have the labor and consider it too expensive.
“Pick bulls for the traits you want, and use A.I. to get those genetics,” Gentry said.
Gentry said estrus synchronization is possible using recommended protocols for timed A.I. He said two scientists at the Dean Lee, Hill Farm & Red River research stations artificially inseminated 374 cows using timed A.I. this year, & 61 percent became pregnant.
“Groups of cattle were inseminated on a pre-set date regardless of whether they showed heat,” Gentry said.
Estrus patches, which indicate when cows are ready to breed, were used to determine response rates to the synchronization protocol, he said. Writer: Bruce Schultz at (337) 788-8821 or bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu