Self A.I.

Looney1

Just wondering do people think it would be a good idea to go on an A.I. course. Is it worthwhile or should I stick with the A.I. man

stanflt

very much worth it even if your not successful at doing it-you will learn so much as to handling cows(ie cycling cows-dirty cows etc etc)

Finno59

i think there was a thread a while back that said its only economically worthwhile if u have 80 cows or over but i'l probably do this course sometime in the future as our AI man never has any of the bulls i want and doesnt know the names of half them.

pakalasa

If you have enough cows, it's deffo the best investment you will ever make. Very few things in farming will give you a return like using the best genetics you can.

oooge1

i would recommend it.. i started three years ago and admittedly my first year was rubbish. but since that i haven't looked back since.... its great to be able to pick your own bulls and been able to ai the cow when the time is right and not have her waiting in the yard for hours for the ai man, is a bonus in itself.

redzerologhlen

I did it 3 years ago. Happy I did it but I find it impossible to do heifers which is what I really want to do. I was able to do them when I was training but after 8 or 9 months of having the gun and the gloves thrown up on the shelf I got rusty and to be honest dont have the confidence to do it now. Its all well and good to be using the best but if 2 or 3 cows dont go in calf your a lot worse off then before regardless of quality. I would want to go back and do another day or 2 training again to get back into the swing of it to be honest, I did about 15 cows the first year and they were all in calf after max 3 services. What im trying to get at and not to put you off but you would want to be doing a good few over the year to keep in practice, in my case when I went doing the cows the second year I knew it wasnt as natural to me as it was the first and didnt do as many because I was afraid they wouldnt go in calf.

island of tighe

redzerologhlen wrote: »

I did it 3 years ago. Happy I did it but I find it impossible to do heifers which is what I really want to do. I was able to do them when I was training but after 8 or 9 months of having the gun and the gloves thrown up on the shelf I got rusty and to be honest dont have the confidence to do it now. Its all well and good to be using the best but if 2 or 3 cows dont go in calf your a lot worse off then before regardless of quality. I would want to go back and do another day or 2 training again to get back into the swing of it to be honest, I did about 15 cows the first year and they were all in calf after max 3 services. What im trying to get at and not to put you off but you would want to be doing a good few over the year to keep in practice, in my case when I went doing the cows the second year I knew it wasnt as natural to me as it was the first and didnt do as many because I was afraid they wouldnt go in calf.

first post
started doing diy ai three years ago.only doing 20-25 cows per year but as im part time farming i found calling ai company totally unworkable.going well for me.can be frustrating starting off, when i would get beaten doing one i used to let her across the yard to my limousin bull.i found it good to practise on my cull cows in november to get my hand in again. i am using bb bull ryp 13 cows served since december first

49801

alot of the ai companies do refresher training days. not sure what cost is but is there if you feel the need.
i know its done in macroom mart for example.

cowmilk

Whats a good way to get AI training & experience?

49801

cowmilk wrote: »

Whats a good way to get AI training & experience?

usually plenty ads in the journal each week.
otherwise could contact the your local AI company/supplier and ask them whom is doing DIY training in the area

cowmilk

cowmilk wrote: »

Whats a good way to get AI training & experience?

Any recommendations of good AI training centres? Where to get good info?
Is the ICBF a good info resource?

49801

cowmilk wrote: »

Any recommendations of good AI training centres? Where to get good info?
Is the ICBF a good info resource?

Where are you based?

sh1tstirrer

Looney1 wrote: »

Self A.I.

:eek::eek::eek::eek:

bogman_bass

Looney1 wrote: »

Just wondering do people think it would be a good idea to go on an A.I. course. Is it worthwhile or should I stick with the A.I. man

Are you happy with the service you are getting at the moment? if you are keep your money in your pocket.

If not then concider it

Arrow in the Knee

I am also thinking of doing an AI course.

How long is the course and how much?

49801

Arrow in the Knee wrote: »

I am also thinking of doing an AI course.

How long is the course and how much?

think I heard a figure like 1200e last year but that includes everything like you nitro tank and guns.

germanicus

Got a quote for 1200 as well for the course and a "right" pot there a few weeks back. Must be from the same crowd

bogman_bass

Dont forget to factor in the 4 top-ups every year with nitrogen plus you have to pay for the straws even if you dont like the calves and stop using them.

The temptation is to go for the next big thing every year and end up with a pot full of straws

49801

bogman_bass wrote: »

Dont forget to factor in the 4 top-ups every year with nitrogen plus you have to pay for the straws even if you dont like the calves and stop using them.

The temptation is to go for the next big thing every year and end up with a pot full of straws

what sort of anual cost are you looking at for topping up your flask?

If your foolish enough to overstock you flask... your just well... foolish really.
maybe there is an app for that :rolleyes: