Comparison of Summarized Sires and Sampling Sires in Artificial Insemination. 2. Economic Difference

¹ Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802

Economic differences between summarized and sampling sires were determined for a breeding project for which daughter production means and other parameters were available. A range of milk prices and interest rates were examined. Units of semen to produce one milking daughter, calving age, calving interval, and survival rates were specified. Any additional cost of semen was required to be recouped in the first four lactations of daughters. Added value of semen from summarized sires was from $3 to$2.40 per dose of semen depending on the financial conditions specified. The same economic analysis was applied to specific summarized AI sires and compared with the expected average sampling sire. In every case but two, sampling sires were more economical given the price of semen.

Key Words: sampling sires • economic returns • artificial insemination

Submitted on August 13, 1990
Accepted on December 26, 1990