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Makell Peterson

Prof. Parry

English 2010

July 12, 2022

Artificial Insemination in Livestock

Artificial insemination is something that has been around for a long time. The first

experiment with artificial insemination happened in 1780 with a female dog. Since that point in

time, the process and industry for artificial insemination has expanded immensely. Artificial

insemination is the process of directly inserting semen into the uterus of the animal. A male is

selected that possesses the best traits, and then semen is collected and used for insemination. The

process of artificial insemination varies from species to species of livestock. Artificial

insemination makes it, so livestock does not have be bred naturally. The process of artificial

insemination has gained popularity and is a way to increase production of livestock and help

with reproduction. Many farmers look at artificial insemination as a way to raise better livestock

and cut back on cost of operations and production. Artificial insemination allows farmers the

opportunity to expand their bloodlines, raise better livestock, and cut back on cost. It provides

many benefits to a farm by breeding females all at the same time and having them parturition all

at the same time. Some studies have also shown that through artificial insemination the babies

are becoming stronger and more valuable. Artificial insemination technology is also expanding

and helping the livestock industry grow.

Farmers take several steps to get female livestock ready for insemination. It is very

important for the farmers to keep good, detailed records, that include what was bred, when it was
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bred, and the estrous cycle. These records would also note of how well a female reproduces and

the number and wellbeing of offspring. The insemination can be affected by the female’s

nutrition, confinement, time of year, and overall health. It is important to know and understand

the females heat, or estrous, cycle. Timing is very important for artificial insemination. If

livestock is bred too early or too late it can affect if they get pregnant, the size of the babies, and

the number of babies. Many farmers use medication to help a female come into heat to make it

so they can have the insemination timing right. They use a product that helps with ovulation.

They will also use contact with male livestock to help intensify the heat cycle. This is important

to have the timing and the heat cycle at the best point when the artificial insemination technician

is at the farm to perform the procedure. By having all female livestock cycle and be bred on the

same day it helps cut back on cost.

While there are many important attributes to be successful in artificial insemination, one

of the most important is to get all the females cycling and prepared to be bred on the same day.

The livestock that is selected to be bred to are given certain hormones. This process is called

estrus synchronization. It is targeting the selected females to enter into their heat cycle. In the

book, “Artificial Insemination of Farm Animals” the author, Stephen Rego, provides a table

showing all the hormones are that are given throughout the hormone protocol. The first hormone

that is given is progesterone. This hormone helps in slowing the process of maturation of

follicles and ovulation (Rego 11). The product that is used most commonly with progesterone is

CIDR, controlled internal drug release, to help enhance the synchronization of estrus (Rego 11).

The next hormone is Prostaglandin F2a, PGF2a, and is used to initiate the luteolysis of the

corpus luteum. It allows the membrane receptors to increase from day three to day twenty (Rego

12). The final hormone used is gonadotropin, which is a releasing hormone that helps to start
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ovulation. Ovulation usually occurs for eight hours between 28-32 hours after the injection is

given (Rego 12). All these products can be seen as the hormonal protocol given to livestock for

artificial insemination. Although these protocols can be beneficial to the reproduction of the

females the protocol can be very expensive. It is hard for a farmer to see the full benefits since

the cost is so high and conception rate is not predictable or guaranteed.

The process of artificial insemination has many steps for both the male and female

livestock. Each animal plays an immense role in the process and success of the insemination. A

male is chosen based on his traits that make him the best candidate to breed with. In the book,

“Artificial Insemination of Farm Animals” the author, Rego, gives the example of traits “fast

growth rate, reproductive efficiency, and muscle composition” (3). The hope of artificial

inseminating to males with these superior genes are to help get more of these traits into the

population for a more affordable cost. Another big reason a breeder or farmer would choose a

certain male is to continue to a certain bloodline or change sires, creating a new line that gives

the farmer more variety in the herd. Rego also said, “Artificial insemination has also permitted

genetic diversity where one can improve crossbreeding on smaller farms at the same time

increasing genetic progress” (3). This is a substantial benefit, especially for small farms that are

struggling to expand or cannot afford to purchase males that will help improve their herd.

Selecting the right male for the herd is very important for growth of operations and better

livestock. After the farmer has selected the male to breed with, they then collect the semen from

the male. This can be done several different ways that are noninvasive for the male livestock.

Once the semen is collected it is tested for fertility and viability. From this point the semen is

either used at that time or it is chilled and frozen to use later. This shows that artificial
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insemination is beneficial for the growth of diversity in a herd and grants access to create more

desirable livestock.

In the article, “A Strategic Dilemma” it discusses some of the downsides to the artificial

insemination industry. With it becoming such a rising industry and having so many breeders and

farmers doing these procedures, it has caused problems for livestock production. Throughout the

article the author talks about there being so many people that artificially inseminate it is leading

to an overpopulated industry. While these procedures have allowed for genetic progress, it has

downplayed the benefits being seen from crossbreeding because of the monopolistic nature.

Many of the large farmers and breeders that artificially inseminate are only breeding to their own

livestock, which is not allowing for the best offspring to be produced within the industry. This

also does not allow for small farms to be able to gain access to semen that is desirable to grow

their own operations or produce the best product that they can. This can be counterintuitive to the

purpose of artificial insemination because the breeds are not crossing with other desired genes to

create the best livestock.

One of the many perceived benefits of artificial insemination is helping to lower the cost

for a farm while also increasing other revenues. Artificial insemination helps to lower cost by

allowing for less male livestock to be hosted or fed. This also makes it so personnel is not

required for the caring of the animals that would no longer be needed. Artificial insemination is

providing farmers with better offspring that are more valuable in operations. It is helping females

to have bigger or more babies which add to the income of the farm. Artificial insemination does

have it costs, that include the purchase of semen and the payment to a technician that is trained to

inseminate the desired female. There is also the cost of having enough staff to keep up with the

females in preparation for the insemination. It is a task that can take several hours a day to do
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checks on their health and keep records of their heat cycles. Overall, artificial insemination is

adding income and other benefits to the farm by minimizing yearly costs.

While it has been perceived that artificial insemination can have benefits for the female

livestock, the offspring, and the need to no longer have male livestock, one study on Hanwoo

cattle showed that it can be very detrimental. Hanwoo cattle’s hormone levels around parturition,

giving birth, after artificial insemination shows that there are some negative effects. In the

article, “Differences in hormone levels around parturition in Hanwoo cattle following artificial

insemination and embryo transfer”, one study showed that there is a decrease in amount of

progesterone from the corpus luteum after giving birth from artificial insemination (Yi 1259).

Progesterone plays a large role in allowing the female to get pregnant and then from there it can

help with the size and growth of the baby. If progesterone levels are low the female is going to

have a harder time conceiving (Yi 1259-1260. During this same study they also found that the

cortisol levels are lower after artificial insemination. The author, Yi, explains cortisol as “a

steroid hormone produced mainly by the adrenal cortex of the adrenal gland. It plays a key role

in the body’s stress response.” (Yi 1259) Given this information, it is showing that it puts this

specie of cow at a higher risk for stress. The cortisol hormone also helps trigger the start of

parturition. By having lower levels of cortisol, it is making it, so the females’ bodies are not

having the correct response during birth and making the female more stressed during and after

birth (Yi 1259-1260). This shows that in some cases of artificial insemination, it can decrease the

likelihood of reproduction, the health of the offspring, and the ability for the female livestock to

survive the act of giving birth. The study emphasizes the need, within this species, that male

livestock is very important in the reproduction of cattle and that artificial insemination can

actually lead to a herd becoming nonexistent. While artificial insemination would likely decrease
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costs for the farm, it would be more detrimental to do these procedures than to have the

personnel, housing, and feeding costs of males.

A study, done by few students at Texas A&M, showed that farmers that artificially

inseminate compared to farmers who naturally breed will see an increase in both the net cash

income per cow, per year and an increase in liquidity per cow. The study showed the benefits

that can reduce cost as well as increase revenue, by reducing the number of bulls, calving season

is shortened, and weaning weights will increase. By synchronizing the females, it allows at least

fifty percent of the females to get pregnant at time of artificial insemination. This also makes it

so that fifty percent of calves will be born within the first week of calving season. The rest of the

females will then calf within sixty days. By using artificial insemination and having a shorter

calving season it is allowing calves that are born from artificial insemination more time to gain

weight than calves that were from females that were not synchronized. The studied showed that

on average the calves from cows that were synchronized, even if they did not conceive from the

insemination and were naturally bred after, were fifty pounds heavier than non-synchronized

calves. By the end of their study, the students that conducted the experiment predicted that if a

farmer artificially inseminated for ten years, by the end of the ten years. each cow will increase

cash revenue by one hundred and sixty dollars. With the influx of capital from calves that were

artificially inseminated, it could push the farmers and breeders to try to capitalize on having

more calves per year. With these benefits, the entirety of the livestock industry would consider

doing multiple artificial inseminations throughout the year even if it was not during the regular

breeding season. This would allow for farms to maximize production and the cash flow that was

coming into a farm.

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While doing artificial insemination, one of the downsides that can affect a farm’s success

rate and the benefit is seasonal variation. In the article, “Factors affecting conception rate after

the first artificial insemination in a private dairy cattle farm in North Algeria”, the author

discusses the harm that can come from breeding the animals in different seasons of the year,

especially after the first artificial insemination (Souames 2609). By breeding a female out of the

normal time of year that they are typically bred, this study is shown that it is decreasing the

reproductive performance and how the female livestock handle postpartum. Another big factor

that would decrease reproduction is the females body condition along with the environment they

are kept in. In the article, “Negative effects of bedding and lying area on synchronized artificial

insemination in dairy cows in Sarajevo Kanton,” a study is conducted that shows the area the

females are kept in play a major role in the detection of estrous (Cengic 266). The study shows

that if a female is lame or having chronic pain it is leading to lower estrous and conception rate

(Cengic). This emphasizes the need for favorable conditions for female livestock while trying to

reproduce. While environment is important, the physical health can also be affected in many

ways. In the study of dairy cattle in North Algeria, it showed that between twenty and thirty-

three days the uterine was not contracting back to normal size. With this happening it is affecting

the conception rate within the females that have had a baby once already. If farmers and breeders

were trying to maximize profit from artificial insemination, they could run the risk of doing the

procedure before the uterine has returned to its natural state. This could lower success rate and

put the female livestock in harm. While they could also conduct these procedures at any time of

the year and as many times as they deem fit, it raises the question of the ethical nature of

artificial insemination. If farmers were to artificially inseminate before livestock was ready,

putting them in harms way, it can be viewed as an unethical practice to not let breeding occur
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naturally. This shows that even if farmers are trying to maximize cash flow, that artificial

insemination may be detrimental to female livestock within their herd.

There are many different operations that vary from large to small that artificially

inseminate. Some of the operation strictly run farms that just provide the males and the semen.

Some operations do not own any males and strictly rely on artificial insemination. By having the

options and the different types of farms it allows the breeder to choose the option that is best for

their farm. It keeps a good competition between all the farms. It also makes it so small farms can

artificially inseminate since there are many different operations and options to choose from. This

can lead to better livestock and the ending product to grow desired genetics, which would lead to

better future operations.

Overall, I feel that artificial insemination can add more benefit to a farm than harm. It

provides farmers and breeders with more options and opportunities. Through the help of artificial

insemination, farmers can produce the best livestock that is available to them. It helps also cut

back on the cost that the farm occurs by not having the males to feed or host, along with having

less staff to attend to males. While some species, it would be damaging to do these procedures to,

for most species it gives more benefits than harm. Artificial insemination is allowing the females

to produce larger and better babies that are carrying more superior genes. During this process it

has some added cost for paying for the hormone protocol and having enough staff to help check

on the females. There are some risks with giving the females the hormone protocol and breeding

outside of the regular breeding season, but it allows farmers to produce these more beneficial

offspring especially during the breeding season. I feel that the biggest issue that would be against

artificial insemination is the ethical nature of the procedure. While many farmers and breeders

would not be unethical while conducting artificial insemination, some may look at the procedure
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to maximize profit with disregard for the life of the livestock. I think by educating more people

and working on more advancements in the industry it will help more people and farmers realize

how great of a benefit it can be for the farmer and for the agricultural industry.
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Works Cited

“Artificial Insemination of Farm Animals.” Edited by Stephen Rego, EBSCO Information

Services, Inc. | Www.ebsco.com, Delve Publishing , 2019,

https://www.ebsco.com/products/ebooks

Cengic, B, et al. “NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF BEDDING AND LYING AREA ON

SYNCHRONIZED ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION IN DAIRY CAWS IN SARAJEVO

KANTON.” Ebsco, Veterinary Journal of Republic of Srpska, 2021, https://web-p-

ebscohost-com.snowcollege.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?

vid=5&sid=a5ae42af-13a0-4e63-8aa4-09dadaf3bb5d%40redis.

Quirino, Monike, et al. “Reproductive Performance of Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination in

Swine and Factors for the Technology Success.” Ciência Rural, Universidade Federal De

Santa Maria, 18 Feb. 2019,

https://www.scielo.br/j/cr/a/M5ZZTvH6YZN9kF7bH6xtKRB/abstract/?lang=en.

Ringer, Cody, et al. “Economic Impact of Beef Cattle: Artificial Insemination.” Texas A&M

AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 4 Mar. 2019,

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/library/ranching/economic-impact-of-beef-cattle-best-

management-practices-in-south-texas-artificial-insemination/#:~:text=When%20combined

%20with%20estrus%20synchronization,be%20born%20within%2060%20days

Souames, S, Berrama, Z. (2020). “Factors affecting conception rate after the first artificial

insemination in a private dairy cattle farm in North Algeria” Veterinary World, 13(12):

2608-2611 www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.2608-2611
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Wadsworth, James F. “A Strategic Dilemma.” Web, Farmer Cooperatives, 1 Aug. 1994,

https://web-p-ebscohost- com.snowcollege.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?

vid=0&sid=2528bbed-caee-474c-bd39-

128fd728ce24%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3D

%3D#AN=9409020918&db=asn

Yi, J., Yum, S., Y., Kim, D., Han, S., Ha, J., Kim, J., Jung, D., Jang G., Lee, W., and Moon, J.

(2022). “Differences in hormone levels around parturition in Hanwoo cattle following

artificial insemination and embryo transfer.” Veterinary Medicine and Science, 8, 1258-

1263 https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.777