ANIMAL HEALTH
All that does is slow down the rate of genetic improvement, which has a negative impact on the overall sustainability of agriculture.” Researchers have pointed out that the technology could easily be put into production in sparsely regulated South American countries like Argentina and Brazil. My Opinion Technology is almost always beneficial; however, for fun, let’s look at this matter subjectively through the eyes of a U.S. rancher. Many thousands of high- quality bulls are developed and sold in this country each year, their producers using all means available to maximize genetic progress. They provide service to a majority of our national cow herd, doing their job while eliminating the time-consuming task of AI. Beef herds
that AI also depend on these bulls as cleanup sires after insemination season is completed. A question remains about where a surrogate sire would fit in our system. Other than the obvious genetic advancements, why do we AI in the United States?
4) A sire may last from two to 10 years, depending on luck. Semen can be stored indefinitely. This is not to say that surrogate sires would be a great asset in an
underdeveloped country where access to most modern necessities, such as good roads or sterile surgical areas, just don’t exist. It seems we have plenty of time to consider our opinions on this latest reproductive advancement. Perhaps several years from now we will see some of these bulls trickle into the U.S. beef system. What interesting thoughts to ponder, and what incredible things technology is doing for us, with potential that seems unlimited.
1) Bulls can be mean. Dairy bulls, in particular, are lethal.
2) Bulls often get hurt.
Semen tanks never suffer from injury, pinkeye or hoof rot.
3) Good bulls are expensive. Most semen is cheap. I don’t know what one of these surrogate bulls will cost, far out in the future, but I’m guessing it would be a great amount The prohibitive cost would likely not be worth the risk of keeping a live bull around.
The First Hydraulic Corral and still the Largest!
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Rawhide Portable Corral 900 NORTH WASHINGTON ST., ABILENE, KS 67410 785.263.3436 www.rawhideportablecorral.com
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