Delivering High-Quality Semen
by Sandy Johnson, Kansas State University Extension
High-quality semen is a critical component of artificial insemination (the original AI) programs. Collecting and packaging semen is a routine job performed by highly trained professionals. Once it leaves the collection site, its quality is maintained only through proper handling as it makes its way to the cow. A 20-liter liquid nitrogen (LN) tank can hold up to 720 0.5-cc straws of semen, making its contents a significant investment.
An LN tank can be thought of as a large thermos with a vacuum between the inner and outer walls. The vacuum must remain intact to maintain the proper storage temperature. If frost is seen on the outside of the tank, action must be taken immediately as the seal has been lost.
Tank management guidelines
• Store in a cool, well-ventilated area, out of direct sunlight, and not in direct contact with concrete.
• Avoid dents and scratches, and inspect regularly for signs of wear.
• Replace bad stoppers, and keep the stopper and dust cover in place to reduce the chance of a frozen stopper.
• Monitor tank LN level on a regular basis.
When transporting LN tanks, they should not be in the same vehicle compartment as people. As liquid nitrogen vaporizes, it displaces oxygen. A study by ABS Global placed two newly filled LN tanks in a crew cab pickup, and within three minutes, the oxygen level in the cab was unsafe for people.
There is a temperature gradient in the neck of the tank. The temperature below the frost line can range from -40 to -120 °C, depending on the tank model and the level of LN in the tank. Damage to sperm cells can occur at temperatures as low as -80 °C. Once the damage occurs, it is permanent.
Items that decrease the risk of handling damage
• Tank inventory system.
• Have the tank filled near the start of the breeding season.
• Ensure the semen handler can see the print on top of canes.
• Avoid multiple sires in the same canister with similar codes.
• Use tweezers rather than fingers to pull straws. Touching more than one straw can raise the temperature of adjacent straws, and larger fingers may force the cane to be raised higher in the neck.
• Work below the frost line and lower the canister if the straw cannot be removed within eight seconds. If vapors appear when you lower the canister, you have held it too high for over ten seconds.
Tips for thawing semen
• Check thaw bath temperature before starting, and maintain 95–98°F during use.
• Thaw for 30 to 60 seconds based on provider recommendations.
• Only thaw as many straws as you can inseminate in 15 minutes.
• Do not let straws touch while thawing more than one at a time.
• Load straw into a warm gun and maintain warmth.
We often focus on factors that might impact cow fertility when evaluating an AI program. Just as important is the male contribution. Review your process to ensure that semen quality does not limit the outcome.
Soil Fertilization after Warm, Dry Winter
Montana State University Extension
According to Clain Jones, Montana State University (MSU) Extension soil fertility specialist and a professor in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, most of Montana is considered to be abnormally dry or in moderate drought. And, some places in north-central Montana are in severe or extreme drought, according to the National Weather Service’s drought monitor. Most of the northern part of the state, east of the Continental Divide, has received less than 25% of normal precipitation from January 1, 2026, to March 2, 2026, according to drought.gov. Only a small portion of central Montana has received about normal precipitation. The Montana Climate Office reports temperatures were well above average across the state for most of the winter.
“In general, drier conditions will result in less soil nutrient release and availability, though warmer conditions might have counteracted this to some degree,” Jones said. “The question is how these conditions have affected soil nutrient levels and whether it’s worth re-sampling soil if it was sampled last fall.”
In general, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur levels aren’t expected to change much from last fall, as dry conditions have likely prevented leaching of sulfur and likely slowed any release of these three nutrients from soil organic matter and plant residue, Jones said.
Nitrogen could have a bigger change because it can increase or decrease substantially over winter, according to Jones’ research. Microbes can release substantial amounts of nitrate, the plant-available form of nitrogen, from soil organic matter and plant residue if the soil is warm and moist enough. Even though it has been warmer than normal, Jones said that soil temperatures at two to four inches are still generally below 40 degrees, which is a temperature where microbial activity is very low, likely minimizing nitrogen release.
In addition, low rainfall in most areas has likely prevented nitrate leaching, except on very shallow soils. Considering all factors, Jones predicts that spring nitrate levels won’t be substantially different from fall levels, and that re-testing soil this spring for those who sampled in the fall may not be necessary.
Given relatively high nitrogen fertilizer costs, low commodity prices, and below-average soil moisture, Jones suggests applying conservative nitrogen rates this spring. Nitrogen could be applied in-season if spring has average-to-above-average precipitation. In-season nitrogen application can be especially helpful at increasing wheat grain protein, but equipment, time, or weather constraints often minimize its use.
A calculator on MSU Extension’s soil fertility website can be used to determine nitrogen rates that maximize profit. Overfertilizing nitrogen can lead to soil acidity problems, water contamination, and reduced profit, so it is important to only apply what is necessary, Jones explained. Because urea fertilizer can be lost to the air as ammonia, urea should either be applied two inches or more below the surface, or surface-applied before a predicted large rain event of at least a half inch.
Recent research by Jones and his colleagues on sulfur fertilizer has found that yellow mustard needs about 2.5 pounds of available sulfur per 100 pounds of grain, and canola needs approximately 0.65 pounds of available sulfur per bushel. Wheat and peas need about 0.3 pounds of available sulfur per bushel. Available sulfur equals the amount of sulfur fertilizer plus the amount of plant-available soil sulfur in the top two feet of the soil, expressed in pounds per acre. Not all sulfur soil tests produce the same results, so individuals are invited to contact Jones with any questions on sulfur tests.
Minimal phosphorus and potassium fertilization is necessary if a soil test shows that soil phosphorus is above 16 parts per million or that potassium is above 250 parts per million. If phosphorus or potassium levels are below these thresholds, it is recommended that additions of these nutrients be made to the soil.
Jones noted that fertilizer applied in the seed row can impact seedling emergence more when soils are dry, especially in coarse soils. He recommends contacting a crop adviser, MSU Extension agent, or Jones himself to determine seed-safe fertilizer rates.
Jones said producers or crop advisers should scout crops early for signs of nutrient deficiencies, as rescue nutrient applications can be made if deficiencies are spotted early enough. “Nitrogen deficiency is likely if the older leaves are uniformly light green or yellow. Sulfur deficiency symptoms are similar but show up on the newer leaves first,” Jones added.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken Delisted NCBA
In March, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) finalized removal of the Northern and Southern Distinct Population Segments (DPS) of lesser prairie-chicken from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) filed litigation to remove this listing when the lesser prairie-chicken was first listed in 2022 due to the protections being both legally and scientifically flawed.
This listing took effect on March 27, 2023, impacting all states in the species’ range, including Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In 2025, the US Federal District Court of Western Texas vacated the lesser prairie-chicken’s 4(d) rule, holding that the bird should no longer be protected as “threatened” under the ESA because FWS failed to consider the economic implications of issuing the listing. Today’s action by FWS aligns agency action with an existing federal court mandate and is long overdue.
“Ranchers are the primary caretakers of a wide variety of landscapes that provide important habitat for species like the lesser prairie-chicken through voluntary conservation work. Federal agencies recognize that this work is the best way to provide long-term stability for habitat for these species,” said PLC President and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury. “When the lesser prairie-chicken was listed with two separate designations, the ability to effectively carry out that voluntary conservation work was seriously constrained, and PLC took legal action to ensure livestock producers would continue to be able to maintain these working lands. This delisting is welcome news for ranchers across the region, and we will continue to work with our state and federal partners to create and conserve habitat.” .
