How Can Sexed Semen
Be Used in Commercial Herds?
by Troy Smith, field editor, Angus Journal
University of Idaho Beef Specialist John Hall shared the potential and limitations to using sexed semen in commercial cow herds.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (Dec. 3, 2013) — Artificial insemination (AI) with gender-sorted or sexed semen is not new. The technology has been commercially available to the dairy industry for most of a decade. The availability of sexed semen from a limited number of beef sires is more recent, with most interest coming from seedstock breeders interested in predetermining the gender of calves resulting from AI matings.
The potential of sexed semen use by commercial cow-calf producers was the subject of University of Idaho Beef Specialist John Hall’s presentation during the Range Beef Cow Symposium Dec. 3-5 in Rapid City, S.D. Hall said there definitely is potential, but there are limitations, too.
Sexed semen typically costs $10-$15 more per AI dose. Hall said other considerations include the following:
- Pregnancy rates are decreased 10%-20%, compared to conventional semen.
- Despite early results suggesting poor results when used for lactating mature cows, cows and heifers can be expected to respond similarly.
- Sexed semen will work with fixed-time AI systems, but inseminating females that express estrus is best. Mass insemination of females typically is less successful.
- There is considerable variation, from sire to sire, when using sexed semen.
“The best use of sexed semen in commercial herds may be to develop maternal lines of females that can be bred to terminal sires,” said Hall, explaining how the University of Idaho research station has used sexed semen on 20% of its commercial cows to generate Angus x Hereford-cross heifers.
“Using a sexed semen maternal line strategy to produce replacement females could reduce the proportion of a herd dedicated to generating replacements,” added Hall. “Terminal sires can then be used on the remainder of the cows.”
Another potential application is the Heifer-Heifer system, where all replacement heifers are bred to produce the next generation of replacement females. This allows all maternal cows to be mated with terminal sires. A limitation associated with this system is the impact of reduced first-service conception rate when using sexed semen. Inseminating only heifers detected in estrus would maximize pregnancy rates to sexed semen, but additional heifers would have to be retained to compensate for the reduced pregnancy rate.
Hall said another application that might be used to enhance marketing would involve using sexed semen to alter the steer-to-heifer ratio in favor of more steers. This might be most useful to smaller operations that currently must market mixed loads of calves. By shifting the gender ratio, producers could then sell load lots of steers and likely increase return per cow.
All things considered, Hall does not recommend use of sexed semen by producers new to AI. If not now, sexed semen may become a useful tool for commercial producers who already implement successful AI breeding programs.
“Stay tuned,” advised Hall. “We will probably see results improve and better semen-sorting technology as synchronization protocols are developed.”
Hall spoke Tuesday at RBCS XXIII. Visit the Newsroom at www.rangebeefcow.com/2013 view his PowerPoint, read his proceedings paper or listen to his presentation.
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The RBCS is a biennial educational symposium offering practical production management information. It is sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service and animal science departments of the University of Wyoming, South Dakota State University, Colorado State University and the University of Nebraska.
Comprehensive coverage of the symposium is available online at www.rangebeefcow.com. Compiled by the Angus Journal editorial team, the site is made possible through sponsorship of LiveAuctions.tv and the cooperation of the host committee.
Editor’s Note: This article was written under contract or by staff of the Angus Journal. To request reprint permission and guidelines, contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at 816-383-5270.
