SAFETY rs e tt a M
for The Stockman by B. Lynn Gordon
Why you should practice safe transporting and storage of semen tanks.
B
May 2020
reeding season is a busy and important time for all cow/calf producers, but particularly those in the seedstock business. Many hours are dedicated to studying, researching and analyzing records to determine which sires will help advance the genetic merit of your cowherd and its offspring. Artificial insemination (AI) opens the door for accessibility to industry leading beef cattle genetics.
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Because of the predominant use of AI in the seedstock sector, the transportation of cryogenic con-
tainer/tanks (commonly referred to in the beef industry as “semen tanks”) frequently occurs in addition to on-site storage of the tanks at the farm or ranch. Due to this common occurrence, stockmen have a greater opportunity to become complacent in conducting the proper safety procedures associated with transporting semen tanks. When we get the call from the AI company rep to let us know the ordered semen is ready, the semen tank is put on the back seat of the crew cab pickup or in
the wife’s SUV and off we go to restock it, not realizing how we are putting lives in harm’s way.
SILENT KILLER Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is nitrogen in a liquid state. When nitrogen is converted to a liquid form, it becomes a cryogenic liquid; a liquefied gas, that must be kept at extremely low temperatures. As a result of this extremely cold environment, the most common hazard is extensive tissue damage thestockmanmag.com | THE STOCKMAN
