Other duties include advanced agent training in reproductive management, review of the IRM beef calendar, and promotion of Kentucky Beef Book. The A.I.M. program encourages producers to form production and marketing alliances in order to take advantage of economies of size and to increase marketability by cooperative sales. Kentucky Heifer Development Program . Program designed to assist beef producers by establishing heifer development centers. The centers are responsible for nutritional, health and reproductive management of the heifers.
Producers then select their replacement heifers and the remaining are sold in a cooperative sale.
Producers also participate in educational programs to become familiar with the development techniques. Conducted trials on postpartum beef cows and yearling beef heifers examining many different protocols to synchronize estrus and ovulation suitable for timed inseminations. The basic tools necessary for AI in beef cattle have existed for many years. A major factor that has prevented the widespread use of AI is the process is not practical for many beef producers. To increase the use of estrus synchronization and AI in Kentucky, I have developed an applied research program that is centered on the development of new estrus synchronization protocols that are suitable for fixed-time inseminations.