The top negative in artificial insemination (AI) would be the cost, as it is a potentially expensive procedure, as it takes both money and time to synchronise the ram’s progeny testing and the ewes. While fresh semen vaginal artificial insemination is less costly, laparoscopic AI is very expensive because of the needed expertise and equipment. A breeder needs a specific strategy to get the most benefit out of AI. He needs to decide on selective mating or using AI on the whole flock. The conception rate when using AI is lower than natural breeding, thus will a breeder need a standby ram to catch up with ewes that did not conceive.

The breeder must have accurate and detailed documentation, and the procedures must be timed perfectly to maximise the success and accuracy. The USA does not have enough rams that have proven track records as strong production rams. To import semen from other countries is not always possible due to regulations. The semen quality which includes the motility, morphology, concentration, and volume often limits the number of ewes that can be inseminated. One ram could possibly only cover between four and five ewes and not between 20 and 30 as a breeder would wish for.