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There has been a huge increase in the use of sexed semen by dairy farmers, with breeding companies confirming that sales in 2019 are up by 30% to 65% on the previous year.
Key factors behind the upturn include overcoming the problem of offloading low value purebred Holstein bull calves.
Other drivers include the advances in the technology that is used to sex the semen, which has improved both quality of the semen and subsequent conception rates.
Breeding technicians point to conception rates at 90% of conventional semen, with a growing choice of sires available.
Replacement heifers
In general, dairy herds are primarily using sexed semen on replacement heifers and the most productive cows.
The remaining cows are then served with beef semen to increase the calf value.
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