AI or buy a bull?

[Nonees kids]

Im looking into a mini zebu cow or 2 for milk. I hate to buy a bull for 2 cows, just to keep me in milk. But AI just seems so cost prohibited. What should I do?

 

[Heavenly Springs Farm]

I don't know much about Zebu cattle, but I have one cow. I decided it was better to AI because once you buy a bull and feed them it will be more money in the long run. Plus, bulls can get mean. It took us four times but we finally got my girl bred through AI. It still was a lot cheaper than buying a bull. Plus if your cow as a heifer you will have to get a different bull to breed that calf when she was ready. You would have to change bulls every two years or so.

 

[brentr]

Calculate feed/housing cost for a bull for 1 year vs. cost to have an AI technician breed your cows a couple times a year. If your cows are healthy, it shouldn't take but one service to get them pregnant. I think you'll find AI cheaper than keeping a bull.

Some other things to consider are that you need fewer facilities if you go AI, less danger, etc. I don't know all your circumstances, but I think it is an easy question to answer. An added bonus is you have access to superior genetics through AI (and a broader gene pool).

 

[herfrds]

Now if you are going to AI here are my costs.

Semen storage for the year $65.00
Dairy bull semen $25.00 a straw. I bought 3 straws.
CIDRS cost me like around $15.00-$20.00 a natural heat costs nothing if you can catch them.
Heat detectors cost $20.00 but you get like 20 of them. I used 7 this year alone.
Vet cost with mileage was $45.00
tank rental is $3.00 a day and then however much they charge for the fill. Came out to $25.00 total.

So it cost me $245.00 for this year.
Now if we board out our bulls it would cost us $45.00 a month so for 2 bulls for 6 months $540.00. One bull cost us $2500 and the other $3000.

 

[Nonees kids]

Since Im looking at mini zebus, theyre not many around. How would I go about finding a breeder that sells semen straws? Im not even sure if any vets in my area would offer storage or any type of assistance.

 

[purecountrycow]

Ask local dairy farms in your area if they do AI. Thats what I did and found a dairy farmer about 20 mins away and he AI my heifer for $15. $10 for semen and 5 for gas. Just make a few phone call to farmers,,if you just start asking,,,farmers will help you. Good luck!

 

[herfrds]

Google mini zebus semen there were several hits.

 

[austintgraf]

AI is fine though I recommend if you plan on doing AI for a while buy a storage tank for yourself. May cut down on you cost in the long run. Think of it as an investment.

 

[kfacres]

Nonees But AI just seems so cost prohibited.

what's cost prohibitive about AI? 15 dollar semen?? vs 2k bull that you have to feed all year.

 

[redtailgal]

No wonder some of you choose to AI!

Here the bulls stay in the pasture with the cows, we dont grain unless the NEED supplementation, and they dont get hay unless its winter or a rainy day. We now our own hay..

We also have our bulls in a lease rotation, or co-ownership. When the cows need the bull gone, he goes to another farm (one that we have approved and know well).

Esp with the lease, our bulls MAKE money for us. We need to replace the bulls soon, so instead of buying a new bull, we outsource a few seasoned cows and got several bull calves out of the. Once they are weaned, I'll finished them out and FIL will select the one(s) that he wants in the breeding program. The rest are already sold.

We usually keep 1-2 bulls in our rotation.