Over the past 50 years AI has become extremely common, but there are some pitfalls to avoid in order for it to be effective. The key to achieving high levels of performance with AI is to ensure the delivery of “good quality semen into the right place at the right time”. There are many problems that can occur with management and even physiological problems that can only be realized 21 days after.

At the boar stud make sure that there are enough staffed people who are able to run the system in case of an illness or something to that effect. If there are specialized people assigned to different steps of the process, ensure they can all work as a team. Keeping the staff focused and interested will prevent boredom and therefore keep the quality of work up. The size of the boar stud should match the requirements of the operation. Semen wastage cannot be over looked, as it is simple to do. People tend to think that because semen is constantly produced it is not a big deal to waste some. Make sure that everyone understands the costs involved.

Staff should follow a manual or “AI Blueprint”, in which each step is detailed to ensure standardization and consistency. AI supplies should be as clean as possible. Items that come into direct or indirect contact with the ejaculates must be guaranteed “non-spermicidal”. Backup plans should also be made in case of a semen outage, which is a reality in any operation.