Just like many beef producers in North Dakota, this week represents the start of breeding season here at the Carrington REC. Over the past week, the livestock crew has been working to synchronize the cow herd in preparation for artificial insemination (AI). Artificial insemination provides producers an opportunity to use sires with superior genetics at lower cost than purchasing a herd bull with similar genetics. Using AI at the CREC also offers an opportunity to collaborate with on-campus researchers, researchers from other universities, and industry partners to find solutions to improve conception rates to AI.

Cierrah Kassetas, NDSU Animal Science graduate student, breeding a cow using artificial insemination (AI).

The following link provides some information for those producers considering using AI and is a good refresher on ways to maximize pregnancy rates for those of us already using AI: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/livestoc/as1749.pdf

I hope you all have a good, safe, productive summer.

Bryan Neville, Ph. D.
Bryan.Neville@ndsu.edu 
Animal Scientist