MANAGING AN ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION PROGRAM

FIXED TIME AI USING GnRH – THE ARTIFICIAL BREEDING REVOLUTION
by David Plant, Southern Cross Genetics
presented at the Team Te Mania Workshop, September 2012

The global beef artificial breeding industry is changing and being revolutionized by new synchronisation protocols which incorporate GnRH and Fixed Time AI.

Advanced hormonal treatment has allowed the elimination of conventional heat detection programs.

Ovulation is synchronised rather than “heat”. 

Handling of cattle has been reduced to three yarding’s.

To put his all into perspective Ian Moreland quotes - “What used to take 2 ½ days now takes 2 ½ hours”

HEIFER PROTOCOL

Day 0               CIDR IN & CIDIROL
Day 7               CIDR OUT & PROSTAGLANDIN
Day 9               AI & GnRH
(AI 54 + or – 2 hours after CIDR removal)   
Range in conception rates 48% to 80%

COW PROTOCOL

Day 0               CIDR IN & CIDIROL
Day 7               CIDR OUT & PROSTAGLANDIN & PREGNECOL (First Calvers)
Day 10             AI & GnRH
(AI 60 – 66 hours after CIDR removal)
Range in conception rates 60% to 75%

Protocol compliance is imperative.

Semen quality is very important.

There is no allowance for not adhering to the times on the schedule.

There is less stress on the animals and considerable savings on labour.

Every animal has the opportunity to get pregnant on Day 1 of the breeding season.

Research into calving distribution patterns in the USA has shown that FTAI can improve the calving profile and research quoted by Dr Rick Funston from the University of Nebraska shows “a cow that calves in the first 21 day calving interval her entire 8 or 9 year life will produce the weaning weight equivalent of up to 1 ½ additional calves in her lifetime compared to the cow that starts late & stays late”

There is one important thing to remember - These new FTAI protocols are not a “Silver Bullet” to success, nor are they a substitute for poor reproductive management, poor nutrition or poor heifer development.

Heifers should ideally be 60 – 65% of mature weight at joining (340+ kg) and have already reached puberty and be cycling regularly.

Cows should be managed so they calve in good body condition and be placed on a rising plane of nutrition post calving.

The post partum interval to joining with any AI program is a minimum of 50 days and preferably 60+ days.