Our major competitors in Europe lead the world's pork industry in AI use. While purchased boars can introduce new diseases to a herd or become ill themselves when exposed to their new herd, purchased semen comes from health-tested boars and contains antibiotics, providing a much safer method of introducing new sires. If the mating area is suitably constructed for the purpose, the most producers will find that AI is much easier than normal mating. Ontario producers are missing out on a valuable management and production technique. Productivity depends on reproductive efficiency.
Reproductive efficiency relies on using all resources available.
AI provides a tool to enhance leanness, growth rate, and other genetic improvements. AI produces more offspring from the best boars. Without purchasing expensive boars, producers can access superior genetics. Producers know that genetic information is increasingly available and accurate. AI lowers health risks.