Coordinating Sire Genetics in a Synchronized AI Program

Synchronized artificial insemination was used to inseminate cows using different types of sire genetics, including low-accuracy, calving-ease, and high-accuracy. These three sire groups were compared to calves born to cows bred using natural service. We found substantial production efficiency gains, carcass merit improvement, and economic value for calves of cows bred using a synchronized artificial insemination program with highaccuracy semen. The economic advantage of the high-accuracy sire group of calves was computed to be in the neighborhood of $40 to $80/head, relative to the natural service sire group of calves.