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.