Boosting Herd Genetics: Artificial Insemination Brings Big Benefits to Small Beef Herds

Genetic progress can be slow in beef cattle, but artificial insemination (AI) is a tool to help producers reach their herd genetic goals faster. That is the number one reason Brendon Crane immediately took advantage of this technology when he established Crane Cattle Company in Lorne Valley, Prince Edward Island, in 1990. The farm focuses on producing and finishing top-quality Hereford calves with their 30-head cow herd.

“As a small producer I couldn’t afford to buy those top-quality bulls that really fit with what I was looking to improve in my herd,” Brendon says, adding that “to improve the genetic base of your herd and be competitive, not just within a specific breed but also in the market, you need a different genetic base coming into your herd all the time.”

Although AI has been available for over six decades, it has not been widely adopted by Canadian beef producers. Results from the 2022-23 Canadian Cow-Calf Survey showed that 34% of producers with 50 cows or less used AI on their operations, with a trend for reduced usage with increasing herd size (Figure 1). Similarly, these small producers were more likely to AI a higher percentage of their heifers (62%; Figure 2) and cows (40%; Figure 3) compared to larger operations.