The concept of improving your heifer ratio during calving season is extremely exciting – imagine if all your first-calf heifers dropped heifers… the profitability of that string would be much more enticing. Furthering that goal, Select Sires has joined with Sexing Technologies of Navasota, Texas to begin operations of a semen sexing lab at Select’s headquarters in Plain City, Ohio. The fruit of this partnership will be increased offerings of proven sires in the gender SELECTed lineup.
The patented sorting technology used at the lab has consistently provided semen resulting in 90% purity in producing heifers. The biggest drawback is reduced conception rates: typically sexed semen will produce conception rates 75% lower than conventional semen. This conception rate is why the product is recommended only for use in virgin heifers, and why strict details of semen handling and insemination are critical to profitability. On-going research is focused on improving the conception rate, as well as determining the viability of using the product with lactating cows as well as heifers.
8 Comments on “Select Sires Sexed Semen Lab Up and Running”
I just wanted to drop a line to call attention to a minor but rather important error in the wording in the second paragraph of the post regarding Select Sires Sexed Semen lab. Conception rates with sexed semen are 75% “of” conventional, not 75% “lower than conventional”. Producers should expect average sexed semen conception rates to be 25% lower than that achieve with conventional semen. For example, a herd that achieves 60% conception in virgin heifers with conventional semen can expect conception rates around 45% with gender SELECTed semen.
Thank you,
Mel DeJarnette
Senior Reproduction Specialist
Select Sires, Inc.
I just wanted to drop a line to call attention to a minor but rather important error in the wording in the second paragraph of the post regarding Select Sires Sexed Semen lab. Conception rates with sexed semen are 75% “of” conventional, not 75% “lower than conventional”. Producers should expect average sexed semen conception rates to be 25% lower than that achieve with conventional semen. For example, a herd that achieves 60% conception in virgin heifers with conventional semen can expect conception rates around 45% with gender SELECTed semen.
Thank you,
Mel DeJarnette
Senior Reproduction Specialist
Select Sires, Inc.
i was thinking about sexing some of my beef cattle semen. but i was wondering what the price cost and how about going about it. if you could email me some info on the prceedure that would be great or just let me know who i need to get in contact with.
i was thinking about sexing some of my beef cattle semen. but i was wondering what the price cost and how about going about it. if you could email me some info on the prceedure that would be great or just let me know who i need to get in contact with.