"ai with a purpose" article in short country

Help Support Steer Planet:

linnettejane

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 6, 2008
Messages
2,233
Location
eastern ky
ok...i had just placed my order for sexed semen, all excited, pumped, ready to have at it...and then this article comes out...it says the technology has improved as well as the quality and accuracy...yada yada yada...BUT... they only recommend sexed semen on "virgin" heifers at this time...and the article goes on to say..."Dont use sexed semen on mature cows or you'll be very disappointed."  WHAT?  WHY?  can some of you with a lot more experience elaborate more on this...because im going to be aing this weekend and had planned on using sexed semen on a 9 year old...is this a mistake?
 

Steered

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
133
Location
Spring Hill, Ks
The first time that I saw sexed semen advertised it said to only use on virgin heifers.  I have asked several people why and nobody has been able to tell me why.  Hope someone on here knows.
 

justintime

Well-known member
Joined
May 26, 2007
Messages
4,346
Location
Saskatchewan Canada
I flushed a donor, in Indiana, to sexed TM Gus semen shortly after he won Denver. The ET vet was not real enthused about using the sexed semen. He said that he had never had a real successful flush using sexed semen. We  went ahead and used it because this was a shared flush and my partner wanted heifers. We got 4 grade 1 embryos and 11 degenerates and /or unfertilized. After the flush the ET vet said that these results were on par with any sexed semen they had used before.

I have also asked my ET vets here  about sexed semen and they tell me to not bother even trying until the technology gets better. I know there have been some excellent flushes from some sexed semen but are they that rare that these vets don't think it is worth it yet?
 

shortdawg

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2007
Messages
6,520
Location
Georgia
I've heard that when a flush is sold and sexed semen is used they will only guarantee 4 eggs where they usually guarantee 6.
 

JD3188

New member
Joined
Jul 12, 2008
Messages
4
I heard its because the sexed heifer semen only has about half the concentration of cells as regular semen, so a much smaller chance to get a female stuck. 

I've always heard that heifers are easier to get bred then cows, maybe thats why they suggested only heifers?  I personally get cows stuck using AI at the same rate as I do heifers.
 

jeffb1

Well-known member
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
275
Location
Arkansas City, Ks
Yes, sexed semen will typically have fewer sperm cells per straw and can(and often WILL) produce disappointing results when flushing. Don't know the answer to your heifer /cow ?, but I can tell you In-vitro is becoming an econimically viable option for the higher-end matings using sexed semen via embryo flush. Much better option, in my opinion using sexed semen with flush work. They are doing it in Tx now, from what I've been told. Can set up more than one female for eggs to be fertilized by smaller amount of (sexed) semen. Considering it, haven't "jumped off" yet. JB
 

LN

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 15, 2008
Messages
767
Location
South Texas
JD3188 said:
I heard its because the sexed heifer semen only has about half the concentration of cells as regular semen, so a much smaller chance to get a female stuck.

I've always heard that heifers are easier to get bred then cows, maybe thats why they suggested only heifers?  I personally get cows stuck using AI at the same rate as I do heifers.

Heifers have higher conception rates to AI so the sexed semen is more effective on them.
 

Jill

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 20, 2007
Messages
3,551
Location
Gardner, KS
I have heard that the most productive fertile time in their life is as a heifer, had a friend that used heifers for recips because of the higher conception rates.
 
Top