There are wider considerations to keep in mind to optimise sexed semen use on farm.

A New Zealand trial showed that frozen sexed semen thawed at room temperature averaged 13% lower conception rates compared to conventional semen.

Europe and US trials showed that frozen sexed semen thawed at 37 degrees Celsius and inseminated 16 hours after a standing heat resulted in a 3% to 6% difference between sexed and conventional semen.*

Execute a well-managed plan to reap the benefits of sexed semen:

• Mate yearling heifers to sexed semen – they have higher conception rates than milking cows
  –  choose bulls suitable for yearling mating
  –  pregnancy scan early to identify cows in-calf to AI bulls
• mate heifers 10 days before the main herd
• avoid mix-ups by calving cows in-calf to AI bulls separately to cows in-calf to stock bulls
• use strict criteria when selecting cows for sexed semen. For example, young, high genetic merit, healthy, early-calved and cycling cows
• mate selected cows before your herd’s mating start date. Move the mating start date forward if necessary
• ensure herd fertility is high before you consider using sexed semen
• be certain cows are on full standing heat before mating with sexed semen. If you’re unsure use a conventional straw
• have plenty of stock bulls ready to cover returning cows. For example, two teams of one bull to three non-pregnant cows if using two-year-old bulls, plus spares
• follow STgenetics® handling and insemination instructions for SexedULTRA 4M®.

Download handling and insemination instructions

Maximise herd improvement and profits on your farm with targeted use of LIC sexed semen.