Demand for sexed semen is on a par with last year, according to sales manager at Progressive Genetics Seamus Hughes.

Hughes said this is a little unusual, as over the last five or six years, there has been an increase each year in the demand for sexed semen, so it seems to have tapered off this year.

There’s a number of reasons for this, according to Hughes: “One of the main reasons is the decent price for dairy-beef calves this year and also the drop in milk price.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Last year, approximately 55% of straws sold by Progressive Genetics were ordinary AI and 45% were sexed semen he added, but this ratio could change this year, as the season hasn’t kicked off yet.

Replacement heifers

Hughes also mentioned that replacement heifers are tight this year.

“I think we saw evidence of that shortage last autumn when in-calf heifers were making €3,000 or more, because they weren’t there to be got and we have only seen this since the milk price has collapsed.”

As a result, he said as a word of caution that he recommends farmers breed enough replacements to cover themselves.

In terms of synchronisation of heifers, Hughes said it’s working out well for farmers provided the set routine is followed. It’s also important that the heifers are up to the correct weight, he added.

“There is a real resurgence in continental dairy-beef inseminations like Charolais and Limousins, especially bulls with short gestations periods,” he added.

Production

Hughes also noted that dairy farmers are always trying to move on production in terms of milk solids when choosing AI bulls.

“The easiest place to improve production is to have a mature herd and you can’t have a mature herd without good fertility.

“Farmers are looking at kilos of milk to try to drive production, but what really drives it is early calving and a mature herd.”