Starting an Artificial Insemination Clinic for Cattle Producers in Southern Arizona
Animal Science
Ashley Wright
Livestock Area Associate Agent
The University of Arizona
Vail
Abstract
Before 2019, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Service had not offered an Artificial Insemination (AI) workshop for beef producers. A 2015-2016 needs assessment had ranked AI as a topic not of particular interest to cow-calf operators, who likely saw major barriers to implementation. These barriers include lack of appropriate facilities and labor issues as their cattle are primarily grazing large tracts of public land. I was also likely due to unfamiliarity with the process. In 2017, an AI workshop was held in Graham County with emphasis on how AI could be utilized in Arizona. Following that, recent years have led to an increased interest in adopting AI as a management tool, especially for producers adopting value added marketing strategies. In Fall of 2019 the first UA Artificial Insemination Clinic was held at the University of Arizona’s V-V Ranch, located in Camp Verde, AZ, but producers in the southern half of the state wanted to attend one closer to home. However, the University owns neither cattle nor an appropriate facility to host this type of event in this region. A producer offered their facility and use of their cull cattle, and in Fall of 2021 UArizona Cooperative Extension held the first annual Southern Arizona AI Clinic for Beef Producers. Fourteen producers attended this sold-out three-day workshop, with an additional 8 attendees for “day one” only to explore AI for their operation without committing to a full clinic. AI Clinic participants reported an average 84% increase in their knowledge of all topics presented, and indicated they were likely or very likely (4.4, 1 = not likely and 5 = very likely) to implement AI on their own operation following the workshop. Participants rated their confidence in performing AI at a 3.3 (1 = not confident and 5 = very confident). While hosting an AI clinic on a working beef operation came with unique challenges, it was also a realistic experience for attendees and learning objectives were met. This presentation will focus on how we overcame those challenges for a successful program that will become an annual occurrence for Southern Arizona.
Authors: Nate Brawley, Ashley Wright, Joslyn Beard
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Nate Brawley Assistant in Extension, Livestock, University of Arizona, Arizona, 85551
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Ashley Wright Livestock Area Associate Agent, University of Arizona, Arizona, 85641
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Joslyn Beard Extension Specialist, Livestock, University of Arizona, Arizona, 85719