Poll: AI versus stock bull - the great debate

A question that never fails to generate robust arguments among groups of suckler farmers is which is better, stock bull or AI.

Suckler farmers have had a long struggle using AI, with just 23% of calves born to AI bulls in 2015. This figure doesn’t change a lot year on year and when you factor in AI in pedigree herds, AI use in the commercial herd is extremely low.

Indeed, even in pedigree herds where genetic progress should be at an accelerated rate, stock bull usage is high, with 30% of all pedigree bulls born in 2015 sired by stock bulls.

Many dairy farmers would herald AI usage as being the catalyst for the speed of genetic gain they have experienced in recent years. On the beef side, we seem to trundle along, making do with a slower rate of genetic gain.

While elite stock bulls should not be dismissed, they take a long time to put a stamp on a breed.

If we take a pedigree cow bred this spring with an unproven young stock bull, it will be 2022 before we have any weaning weights of daughters, at which point the bull could be long gone.

If he turns out poor for maternal traits, it could take a number of years to get back to where you started. The use of proven genetically superior AI sires takes out some of this risk.

Regardless of whether a stock bull or AI is being used, aim to use the very best genetics in your herd. An extra €1,000 towards the purchase price of a bull will cost €10/calf if a stock bull sires 100 calves over four years.

Take plenty of time in identifying sires that will progress your herd in terminal traits or maternal traits.

Tables 3 and 4 demonstrate the costs of both systems. Decisions should be made on what best suits your system, but using highly reliable proven AI sires will help make faster progress in the national suckler herd.

Pedigree breeders should focus on AI sires for generating the next population of stock bulls.