Becoming an AI tech... questions

[Gabriel]

How does one go about becoming an AI tech? A short internet search turned up a ton of chaff... figured somebody who's already been through it might point me in the right direction.

• Cost of training?
• Time to complete training?
• Demand for services?

Thanks!

[McDaid36]

This is a great question. I'm interested to know the answer as well!

[FMO3]

Well I have the piece of paper somewhere that says I am a trained AI tech somewhere. Had to go though the class in college. But, to answer your questions.

Cost of training? About $400 or so, you can get a better deal if you buy a bunch of semen from the bull stud. I think at one time with Select if you bought over $1500 of semen in a year, you got the class for free. And $1500 is not that much semen...about 75 straws or so on good bulls.

Time to complete training...I think my class was like 3 or 4 days. It was less than a week, I remember that. Since, it was during spring break week. But, that is just the class part. You can bred cows after that, but I will be honest...I would not let someone breed one of my cows just taking a class. As I don't use cheap semen, and at first you don't get the conception rate as you will later. I know for Genex they require you to breed 300 cows, before you get your own route.

The Demand...that depends on your area. I can count on my hand the number of times I have used a tech in the last 20 years. The big dairies use techs most of the time, and then you got to be with a company. Some big beef herds use them also. But, most people I know can do their own AI'ing. Also, a buddy of mine bred for Genex for 28 years and his area was just closed in Aug. Because there was not the demand for a full time person.

Now, if you want to make a living out of breeding cows. Then you need to go where the dairies are, out west or upper midwest. Then the starting pay is about 30K a year, you breed 12 days out of 14. People I know who do that, start out at 3am, and get done at about noon.

Hope that helps.

[Beef11]

Previous poster hit most of it on the head. I would check with the major studs in your area and ask when they will be putting on the next course. I like to charge for the course but give them a partial semen credit out of it so they end up paying only about 100 bucks or so plus the semen. You will have a tough go getting work starting off. I would recomend breeding for anyone who will let you right out of the gate and getting as much experience as possible. After a while you can start charging and making some money once you become proficient. Not a bad deal but to get a solid clientele you need to be affiliated with a stud. Are you leaning Beef or Dairy? If you start breeding for people many of them will expect you to be very familiar with current bulls and bloodlines. Good luck.

[topside1]

Tennessee Tech holds a class once or twice per year. Genex is the sponsor, the group meets a Tennessee Tech. Cost 300-400 dollars is the best I can remember, one week long. My information maybe a bit rusty. The Ag Barn at Tech or Genex may be good points of contact...Topside

[topside1]

Just got home from Tennessee Tech, the AI class will be held in December. Genex and ABS are the sponsors....$200 for students, $300 for non students, or somewhere close to that price...Topside