Sep 14, 2026
On Friday, September 25, Agriculture Exploratory students traveled to Maxwell, Iowa, to tour Nichols Cryo Genetics. Mr. Atwood transported the students for the tour, where they learned more about cattle genetics, semen collection, and the day-to-day work involved in operating a bull collection facility.
Students attending the tour were Teegin Brownlee, Carsyn Buckingham, Emilee Argo, Aiden Becker, Jesslyn Cole, Kanter Dunbar, Barrett Erke, Silas Hill, Lisa Long, and Tyson Tharp.
Nichols Cryo Genetics can house up to 100 bulls at a time. There are several different breeds represented at the facility, including Scottish Highland bulls, which have become more popular in recent years. Bulls can begin being collected at about 12 months of age, and some bulls continue to be collected until they are 8–10 years old. The bulls are collected on Mondays and Thursdays.
Students learned that there is quite a bit involved in collecting and storing semen. After a bull is collected, the semen is examined under a microscope. Samples are checked for quality, and semen with problems such as bent tails or detached heads is discarded. A collection starts with around 20 million cells, with the number of viable cells being reduced during the freezing and thawing process.
The semen is slowly cooled before being frozen at approximately -320 degrees Fahrenheit. It is then stored in large tanks using liquid nitrogen. One storage tank can hold as many as 90,000 straws of semen. A numbering system is used to keep track of the stored semen. Once collected and stored, the semen can be shipped to producers throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Students also learned about the importance of keeping the bulls healthy. The bull facilities are cleaned and rebedded every day, and the bulls are checked daily for health and injuries. Good nutrition and overall health are important when collecting quality semen from the bulls.
Jay and Dani Steenhoek are the owners of Nichols Cryo Genetics. Jay’s connection to the business started when he attended Iowa State University and completed an internship at Nichols Cryo Genetics. He later had the opportunity to purchase the business from Marvin and Janet Nichols.
The tour also gave students a chance to learn about the many different career opportunities involved in the business. Animal care, nutrition, genetics, reproductive technology, laboratory work, and business are just a few of the areas that are part of the operation.
The Agriculture Exploratory students enjoyed getting to see another part of the livestock industry and learn how cattle genetics are collected, stored, and used by producers across the country and around the world.