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VALUE OF AI CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 But one of the single best ways to realize the benefits of an AI investment is to follow calves all the way through to harvest. “Carcass traits are among the most heritable, and high-quality carcasses [upper two-thirds of Choice and Prime] are commanding a premium at pres- ent,” Hall explained. Retail beef demand shows consumers want more high-quality beef. “AI certainly gives us the opportunity to create that because we can use those highly proven sires that have carcass information that we know are going to give us the kind of cattle the consumer wants,” Hall said. A case study conducted on a 600- head cow herd at Hillwinds Farm in Virginia showed that having both AI sires and dams increased return to cow by 22 percent and increased the percentage of carcasses grading Choice by 38 percent compared to calves from natural service sires and dams. Hall suggested audience members estimate costs and benefits of AI to help in the decision to incorporate AI into their breeding program. A couple of

resources are available to help produc- ers in their financial comparisons: the University of Nebraska’s Breeding Cost Cow-Q-Later is an Excel spreadsheet that can be downloaded for free, and the University of Florida’s/Zoetis’s AI Cowculater is an iPad/iPhone app. Fur- ther, the Beef Reproduction Task Force developed the Estrus Synchronization Planner, found at iowabeefcenter.org/ estrussynch.html , which allows produc- ers to examine different synchroniza- tion systems, calculate costs, develop calendars for procedures and ensure the proper amounts of synchronization products are on hand. Hall also mentioned a fixed-time AI synchronization protocol specific to Bos indicus and Bos indicus -cross cows, and encouraged breeders to consult their AI representative for the best system for their herd. Hall reminded attendees that AI can pay when nutritional management and cow health are already good, so the probability of acceptable pregnancy rates to AI is high, and when estrus synchronization protocols are carefully followed. “If we’re going to be successful with AI and get our money’s worth out of it, we need to have those cattle exhibit-

ing estrus prior to fixed-time AI,” he explained. “In order to do that, we need to not forget the basics: cows in good body condition [body condition score (BCS) of 5 for cows at calving, BCS of 6 for heifers at calving] so they’re nutritionally ready to become pregnant; bulls that have passed breeding sound- ness exams; and pregnancy detection to rid the herd of infertile females.” Hall concluded by reminding attend- ees to “have good management before you even start to think about an AI program, and AI will be more successful and profitable for you.”

AHuge Thank You

S O U T H T E X A S Heritage Sale

To everyone who joined us at the SouthTexas Heritage Sale , especially to our buyers: Schuster Farms

Cherokee Ranch Korban Cattle Jesus Garza / Lazy G Ranch Tres Reinas Ranch Larry Sidebottom Joe Ballenger - Sun Rise Kerlick Family Cattle

Reese Ranch Passion Farms Larry Morris Strait Ranches Wendt Ranches Kubecka Wiley Ranch Black Hills Land & Cattle Cotton Branch Plantation Hefte Ranch Red Doc Farm George Requenez - El Jarrito

Chris and Kenny Bordelon Jostes Land and Cattle Co. Kubecka Ranch Shampain Ranch Buena Vida Ranch Four J Cattle MJ Puig and Son Cattle J Star C Ranch Lazy L Show Cattle Vanguard Cattle

Aldolfo and Christina Sanchez Roland and Valerie Sanchez Leon Creek Pastures Unidos Land and Cattle See You inNovember 2020!

S outh t exaS h eritage S ale . com

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JANUARY 2020 • WWW.SANTAGERTRUDIS.COM

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