A question for the AI techs?

[Oakshire_Farm]

How long is the course? I am looking into it right now.

My husbands employer has said they are going to put him through the course () I am looking into it right now. I have found a place that offers the course, I have sent off a email, but I am impatient, hahahaha, The website, just had the cost and what is covered. It did not say how long it is, or when it is offered. Just trying to plan how long I will be without a husband

[Bret]

Some companies like ABS offer introductory short courses. That will be a good place to start. I went a few nights an hour away. My DW enjoyed riding with me if not the other stuff. There is so much on line that you can study for a while. It takes practice and hand stamina.

Un asked for tips: You can put together a kit of your own. Buy the tools and then find a low cost tool box at your box store to keep them in.

I have a straw cutter, gun, long gloves, extra O-rings because I will lose them, Thermometer, close pins for holding my long gloves to my shirt sleave at the shoulder, lidded drink cup to thaw the straws, flash light, small alcohol bottle to clean the tools, plastic tweezers to lift frozen straws, small lube bottle, roll of TP on the barn wall for the obvious.

I can never remember the water temp range so I have it written on the top of the box that the semen tank is stored in.

Some courses may be longer, more detailed and on campus so to speak.

Read. Breed. Read. Breed. Read. Breed. Read. Breed.

Wear rubber bands on your fingers while you drive and flex them open and closed while you drive. Roll your wrists at the same time. Work through the muscle burn. You will have more stamina in your fingers and wrists while you are trying to get the important part onto the rod during the breeding process.

You will get discouraged. Push though it like always.

[sammyd]

When I got my training the 21st Century guy came out to the farm for 3 days.

[G. Seddon]

Why not call them and ask?

[linn]

My course with ABS was three days long, but that was a long time ago. You might want to check it out.

[BobbyB]

My ABS class was 3 days and that was 30 years ago.

[randyandmegs]

I just finished this past fall and it was 3 days. Day one was all classroom, day 2 half class half practice and day three was all practice. This was though NC State. We had 30-40 cows to practice on all different breeds. Cost was $175. We studied out of ABS book and power points that our 30 year cattle specialist had prepared. My grandpa learned from the same man about 25 years ago.

[hiddensprings]

I took the class last year and it was 2 1/2 days. I enjoyed the heck out of it. When I was finished, I asked the local dairy farmer if I could come and "pretend" breed any of his cows that were heading to slaughter. he calls me when he has a group going and I spend the afternoon practicing. I successfully breed my two girls and am keeping in practice for the next 7 that will be old enough this spring...

[Oakshire_Farm]

So it looks like it is a 3 day class, 10 students. They say LOTS of hands on practice! $650. OUCH! Good thing the boss is paying! AS well as he is going to have to stay in a hotel for 2 nights. And take a ferry to get to the place the course is.

They are great people that he works for! If I was the employer I would use one of the 4 AI techs in the area, but they have money to spend.

[BobbyB]

Originally Posted by Oakshire_Farm

So it looks like it is a 3 day class, 10 students. They say LOTS of hands on practice! $650. OUCH! Good thing the boss is paying! AS well as he is going to have to stay in a hotel for 2 nights. And take a ferry to get to the place the course is.

They are great people that he works for! If I was the employer I would use one of the 4 AI techs in the area, but they have money to spend.

Hands in experience is more accurate. Its one of those things that youtube or the internet really cant do justice

[kickinbull]

Many years ago I took it through Select Sires. It was for one day.
Some years later, my wife was relief milking for neighbor, they let her join the class on the farm with the farmers family. Also one day.

[Oakshire_Farm]

Great news! I got a email back from Westgen (the big semen supplier and the place that puts on the course) There has been so much interest for a course from people in our area, they have decided it is easier to send the teacher here rather than make everyone travel to them!

They are just waiting to find a farm with enough "practice cows" then we will have a date! And I will not have to pay a AI tech any more!

[myheaven]

Yeah!!! I would love to learn how to ai