A Tennessee bill, which was to reach Gov. Phil Bredesen’s desk in late April, would consider artificial insemination (AI) a farm management practice, meaning the state would no longer require veterinary supervision in order to artificially inseminate a mare.

According to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette (www.t-g.com), the bill comes on the heels of the state health department notifying 72 individuals that they violated state law by artificially inseminating horses without a veterinarian present.

The bill designates livestock AI as an accepted management practice rather than a veterinary service. The health department is seeking a separate bill to end penalties for those charged with performing AI and to refund paid penalties.

Both bills passed in the Senate and the penalties bill awaited House approval. The AI bill passed in March in the House. The penalties bill was favorably recommended by the Government Operations and Agriculture Committees