Sex-sorted semen research

Sex-sorted semen is known to compromise conception rates, largely due to reduced sperm numbers per straw. However, virgin heifers showing strong heats are still good candidates for sex-sorted semen.

Initial reports published from a limited number of services warned of approximately a 30-percent reduction in conception rates in virgin heifers.

In January 2008, researchers retrieved insemination and calving information from 198 dairy herds that had used sex-sorted semen from January 2005 to January 2008. The unadjusted conception rate for 41,398 breedings to gender-sorted semen was 45 percent. These field results revealed that gender-sorted semen resulted in only a 20-percent reduction in conception rates.

Sex-sorted semen provides an opportunity to advance the genetic merit of cows in the herd by selecting the best heifers to be dams of herd replacements.

For more information about this technology, click here.