Semen from a bull is collected, divided into small packets called straws and preserved by freezing. Straws are sold on to any farms that want offspring from that particular bull. The semen in the straw is inserted into the cow or heifer, either by the farmer, by a vet or by a specially trained contractor. AI allows a farmer to produce calves from particularly good bulls without having to have the animal on the farm. It also gives greater control over when calving takes place.
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