Why We Learned to AI Our Own Cattle

Last month, Ray and I packed our bags and set off for Missouri. We joked that it was a vacation, but really, we were there to take a class.

We spent a few days learning all about artificial insemination, or AI. We stayed in the sweetest little Highland-themed Airbnb, caught up with friends, and honestly had such a good time. But as much fun as it was, we didn’t make the trip just for a getaway.

We went because learning to AI our own cattle gives us another way to keep making our little herd better and better.

We soaked up every bit of information we could, just like sponges.

Why AI Matters to us

Artificial insemination isn’t new to our program.

We started using AI about three years ago, thanks to a wonderful local technician who helped us get started. Finding a technician made it possible to bring in genetics we otherwise wouldn’t have access to. 

And that has become increasingly important as our herd grows.

Over the years, we’ve kept some truly special heifers and bulls from our original herd. But after a while, it starts to feel like everyone is related to everyone else.

Suddenly, the breeding season becomes a giant family tree puzzle, lol.

Our little Bodie, an AI Calf from our mama Marie

So Why Learn to Do It Ourselves?

Having an AI technician was such a helpful way for us to begin, but there were still some things we couldn’t do.

When someone else has to come out to inseminate your cattle, timing becomes a big deal. Usually, we’d have to get a group of cows all ready at the same time, just so the technician could be here when we needed them.

Now that we can do AI ourselves, we have so many more options.

We can still use synchronization when it makes sense, but we can also watch an individual cow’s natural heat cycle and inseminate her when she is ready.

Is that always convenient?

Definitely not.

Cows don’t seem to mind if it’s 2:00 in the morning when they decide to come into heat.

But having that flexibility means we can make decisions for each cow, one at a time, instead of just following aschedule.

What Does Any of This Have to Do With You?

This is really the important part.

We didn’t learn AI just to add another skill to our list. We learned it because it lets us care for our herd in the best way we know how.

We have so many more genetic options now. We’re not just limited to the bulls in our own pasture. We can look for a bull that’s just right for a particular cow, even if he’s far away.

We also get more chances to use sexed semen, which is so helpful when we’re hoping for a heifer or a bull calf from a certain pairing. It’s not a sure thing, but it does help tip the odds in our favor.

We can keep our herd smaller and more intentional. We don’t have to own a different bull for every genetic line, which is a relief. Bigger isn’t always better for us. We love having a manageable herd where we know each cow and can be thoughtful about every single breeding decision.

We can be so much more thoughtful with our pairings now. AI opens up a whole world of genetics, so we can think about size, structure, hair, temperament, color, polled genetics, and all the little things that make each calf special.

Our goal isn’t to make a hundred calves that all look the same. Some families dream of a tiny pet steer. Others hope for a heifer they can breed someday. Some love Highlands, while others want a bald face, a belt, or a specific color.

Having more genetics to choose from means we can offer all those different kinds of calves, without ever giving up what matters most to us: health, temperament, structure, and quality.

What’s Next?

Now comes the fun part—putting everything we learned into practice.

There will probably be some late nights watching cows, a few 2:00 a.m. trips out to the chute, and lots more learning as we go.

But that’s okay.

Bringing our clients the very best cattle we can has always been our priority, and it always will be. If learning something new helps us make our herd even better, make more thoughtful breeding choices, and give our families more options, then every minute in Missouri was so worth it.

Even if the cows never seem to cycle during business hours, we wouldn’t have it any other way.Even if the cows never seem to cycle during business hours, we wouldn’t have it any other way.