Usage of Holstein sexed semen rose to nearly 18% in the UK in 2017. The figures published by AHDB show a rise of sexed Holstein semen in the dairy herd over the last five years, from 12% in 2012. The drive for sexed semen is fuelled by farmers looking for more female calves. “Sexed-semen usage will continue to rise as confidence in the technology grows, more semen is sexed, and the premium over unsexed semen reduces,” said the Cattle Health and Welfare Group recently.