Thursday, 01 October 2020 12:21

LIC’s AB technicians hit the road to get cows pregnant

Written by  Staff Reporters
Left to right with dad Paul McCarthy are daughters Laura, Anita and Erin. Left to right with dad Paul McCarthy are daughters Laura, Anita and Erin.

Each year about 900 of LIC’s qualified AB technicians (AB techs) visit farms in their local area, artificially inseminating thousands of cows between September and January.

Their aim is getting cows pregnant to continue-on in their farmer’s milking herd and produce the next generation cow.

LIC’s AB technicians are paid at a piece rate meaning they get paid for every insemination they complete so good money can be made in a relatively short period of time. However, it’s dependent on experience, ability, the amount of time they’re able to work and where they live in New Zealand. It’s a varied and rewarding role that attracts people from all walks to life and LIC is now seeking recruits for the coming season.

The ability to earn extra money in an industry he loves was a strong motivator for one long-serving LIC AB tech Paul McCarthy, who first trained in 1978 as a 20-year-old (seeking to supplement the income he was earning as a first-time sharemilker). He’s now been working for LIC for nearly 40 years.

Paul and his wife Johanna own a 134ha dairy farm in Galatea in the eastern Bay of Plenty but Paul retains his work as a seasonal AB tech because he loves it, and because it’s somewhat of a family vocation.

“My brother-in-law works as an LIC AB tech near Ashburton, with the job becoming and even bigger family affair since my three youngest daughters – Anita, 31, Laura, 30, and Erin, 28 – all fully-qualified as AB tech’s with LIC about five years ago,” he says.

Paul says that there is financial gain to be made, however it’s no easy ticket getting there, especially if you’re working two jobs as Anita and Erin are.

“Laura only just got through because there’s a height and length-of-arm criteria for the job. But she just got in and did her apprenticeship in the South Island where you’re dealing with large Friesians and she was able to inseminate those big cows. She’s a very determined person.”

The training process

Trainees go through an initial two-week training course with LIC which includes working on an artificial cow and a visit to a freezing works to work on live animals. Next comes working as an apprentice for an entire mating season. If results are successful (and cows fall pregnant), the trainee then gets a group of farms to service themselves, with close support and monitoring by LIC’s team of AB supervisors and senior mentors.

“It’s only the AB techs who are genuinely passionate about their job that succeed, and they’re generally the same ones who carry good empathy for dairy farmers,” Paul says. “All young AB techs I know are immensely proud of their role in the dairy industry.

“But it’s not the easiest thing to learn. It’s hard on your arms and hands. It can be very frustrating and there are plenty of times you’ll ask yourself ‘what am I doing this for?’ but then one day it all clicks. Once you’ve got it, and you’ve handled the pressure of training, there’s a lot of pride there; it makes you feel good.”

Once trained AB tech’s can return to their role the following season, after taking a break over the Christmas and New Year period. Many do other essential work in the agriculture sector, or travel and work overseas in the interim period (although not under COVID-19) where New Zealand LIC trained and qualified AB techs are highly regarded.

More like this

LIC ends year with $30.6m profit

Herd improvement company LIC has ended the 2024-25 financial year in a strong position - debt-free and almost quadrupling its net profit.

LIC Space folds for good

Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.

Featured

People-first philosophy pays off

The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.

Farmer anger over Joy's social media post

A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.

From Nelson to Dairy Research: Amy Toughey’s Journey

Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.

AgFirst marks 30 years of agribusiness advice

AgFirst, New Zealand's largest independent agribusiness consultancy, is turning 30 - celebrating three decades of "trusted advice, practical solutions, and innovative thinking".

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Buttery prize

OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…

Gene Bill rumours

OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter