PSXI-9 CriaCerto - Breeding System Simulator App: a case of study in Brazil

Abstract

Abstract CriaCerto App was launched in February 2019 by Embrapa, Brazil, as free access, available at www.criacerto.com. It simulates the costs and benefits of the main breeding systems for cattle production: Natural Service (NS), One Fixed Time Artificial Insemination plus NS (1FTAI), Two Fixed Time Artificial Insemination plus NS (2FTAI), and Three Fixed Time Inseminations (3FTAI). This work aimed to evaluate the use of the App as well as the results of the simulations carried out during the 12 months following its launch. From February 14th, 2019 to February 20th, 2020, 4,780 accesses to the platform were recorded, with an average access time of 3 min 30 s. Eighty percent of accesses were made using mobile phones, 15% from desktops, and 5% via tablets. These accesses resulted in 975 different simulations, where 51% were from NS, 24% of 1FTAI, 14% 2FTAI, and 11% 3FTAI. There was a difference between the prices the farmers were willing to pay for the bulls according to the reproduction method. Those who performed NS simulations were willing to pay less for bulls than those who simulated 1FTAI or 2FTAI. It was also observed that the price to be paid per semen dose on 1FTAI simulations was practically double of the 2FTAI. This indicates that farmers are willing to invest in genetically superior bulls, which are usually more expensive, but the decision is made based on the total amount of money spent. It also indicates that farmers take into account the trade-off between the cost of the bull, semen dose and the benefits of genetic improvement. In Brazil only 12% of the total beef cows participate in artificial insemination programs. Nonetheless, through this study, we concluded that farmers are opened to invest in FTAI, even though they do not want to pay high prices in semen doses.