Making Decisions with the AI Cowculator App

[Tweet “How efficiently cattle reproduce is important for beef producers. This UF/IFAS app can help! #Cowculator http://bit.ly/1N59TTt”]How efficiently cattle reproduce is an important concern for beef cattle producers. In the US beef industry, 8% of operations use artificial insemination (AI) to sire calves. In comparison, AI is responsible for about 72% of pregnancies in dairy operations.1 AI has several documented advantages, but factors such as time and labor can influence the cost-effectiveness of this method.2

Developed by UF/IFAS professor Cliff Lamb and Rickey Helsel, the AI Cowculator app uses a beef operation’s specific production data (the cost of a bull, the number of cows in the herd, etc.) to determine whether using AI or natural service (bulls) is more advantageous. In addition to the cowculator, the app helps users find local AI suppliers and technicians, and also provides education materials and access to social media discussions.2

For more information and to download the free app, go to the UF/IFAS Mobile Apps page.


  1. Vitor R. G. Mercadante, Darren D. Henry, Francine M. Ciriaco, Pedro L. P. Fontes, Nicky Oosthuizen, and G. Cliff Lamb, Estrous Synchronization and Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination, AN324, Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2016, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an324
  2. “AI Cowculator,” itunes.apple.com, 2013, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ai-cowculator/id659177106?mt=8

UF/IFAS Photo by Javier Edwards

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Posted: April 4, 2016


Category: Agriculture, Livestock, SFYL Hot Topic
Tags: Agriculture Hot Topic, Artificial Insemination, Beef Industry, Calf-cow Production


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