AI school comes to CSC

During spring break of the last few years, CSC has hosted an artificial insemination (AI) school.  

The school is three days long. The first day is spent in the classroom learning the basics of cow reproduction, the next two are spent doing hands on work. 

Savannah Solon, sophmore of Kadoka, South Dakota was one of  two CSC students to attend the school. She was interested in the school because of her plans for the future. 

This summer Solon plans on interning with the University of Nebraska in Scottsbluff as a rangeland management intern. 

“It’s a good thing to have on my resume,” Solon said. “But mainly just so I can, hopefully, do that on my own herd, once I get that built.”

The second day of the class was held at the Rushville Extension Office and the third day was held at the Rushville sale barn.

They AIed in, a what Solon referred to as an, “AIing barn”. The barn was a trailer with two lanes, which allowed two people to work at once.

Solon said that her favorite part of the school was the challenge it presented. 

“Its a lot harder than it looks and harder than it sounds,” Solon said. “Finding the cervix can be really challenging and it’s the first thing you have to figure out”

Like most things AI takes practice to get used to, but can still be challenging. The issues facing AI, changes from cow to cow based on development. 

“It’s different because on a heifer the cervix is smaller,” Solon said. “On a cow that’s had a few calves there is scar tissue, that makes the cervix bigger.”

The second day was a day to practice and by the third day Solon said that she was able to get some cows bred.

Solon hopes to be able to use this back on her family’s ranch to avoid the cost of maintaining a bull. 

“It’s something that I think could be profitable,” Solon said. “ With AI there are different ways to do everything with varying costs.”

Overall, Solon said she felt like the class will be something that will benefit her in the  years to come.