AI use is running 8% higher in 2017 to date, latest figures from the ICBF show.

AI technicians have recorded 50,000 more inseminations up to 16 June this year than they did in the same period of 2016.

To date this year, they have recorded 679,758 services on handheld devices, compared with 629,181 for the same period last year.

The figures point to a growing demand for AI over stock bulls, although the ICBF says it will need to see all figures for AI, including farmers’ own AI straw use, before it can get a definitive picture.

Calf births

Meanwhile, calf birth registrations are also up on last year, running at 1,888,414 calves registered up to 16 June.

This is up 29,000 calves on the same period last year, with most of the difference being seen in the registration of dairy calves.

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