A.I. & BREEDING

Although the technology of sexed semen has been around for a while, many still question if it’s worth the investment. After all, the price of sexed semen for many producers is significantly higher than the cost of conventional semen.

As with any new technology, sexed semen should be questioned and analyzed with trusted experts in the veterinary, academic and industrial communities before being applied to an operation. This article will guide you through considerations and applications for sexed semen on any operation.

Ensuring cows are bred soon after the voluntary waiting period and subsequent open cows rebred in a timely manner is critical to the profitability of a dairy operation.

Over the years, science has delivered reproduction management technologies that have helped dairy producers become more efficient and productive. Timed artificial insemination (TAI) is one practice that greatly improves reproductive performance on dairies.

Around the world and especially in North America, the purebred Holstein dairy cow is hard to beat for milk, fat and protein yields. The Holstein cow is also popular for commercial production of milk, particularly in fluid milk markets.

Many studies and research articles have been conducted and all have drawn the same conclusion: There is no physical way to remove horns on dairy animals without creating a task no human wants to do – causing pain to an animal – and thus creating an image the general public cannot understand.

Recently, a University of Guelph-based graduate student working under the supervision of Professor Stephen LeBlanc completed a master’s research project that investigated the comparative results achieved between timed A.I. versus the use of activity monitors.