Sexing Technologies will open its first semen sorting lab in Ireland late this year, the company has confirmed.
According to the global sexed-semen technology leader and innovator, Irish A.I. companies, Dovea Genetics and Eurogene AI Services have committed to produce sex-sorted semen at the new facility.
In a statement to That’s Farming, Juan Moreno, Sexing Technologies CEO:
“This lab will give local dairy and beef producers access to the global gold standard in sex-sorted semen, our SexedULTRA 4M® semen, which is more than 90% gender accurate and achieves conception rates comparable to conventional semen.”
Semen sorting lab location
The lab will be located at Teagasc’s Moorepark Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, located just north of Fermoy in County Cork. Teagasc is Ireland’s agriculture and food development authority. According to the US company, the lab will open in November 2021.
“This lab represents a turning point for Ireland’s dairy and beef industries,” said Stephen Butler, Reproductive Physiologist at Teagasc.
“We are delighted that Sexing Technologies is coming to Ireland to offer this leading technology to our AI industry and, ultimately, to our dairy and beef producers.”
Sexing Technologies said: “Sexed semen generates faster genetic improvement in cattle herds by allowing producers to breed their best cows and heifers to genetically elite sires and create their next-generation replacements.”
“Producers who utilise genomic testing can more easily identify their top genetic merit animals, which they can breed with sexed semen, and their animals with lesser genetic merit can be bred with beef semen to produce a beef calf that will generate added income.”
Guidelines for sexed semen usage from Teagasc:
Guidelines for sexed semen usage
Bull team
- Pick the highest EBI bulls available
- Use a team of ≥5 bulls
Suitable dams
Heifers
- Target live-weight and BCS ≥3.25
- Cycling regularly
Cows
- Parity 1 to 4
- >50 days in milk on day of AI
- BCS ≥3.00
- Cycling regularly
- Free of postpartum disorders and uterine disease
When to use?
- During the first 3 weeks of the breeding season, and within first 10 days if possible.
Recently, read an article on how to achieve high conception rates with sexed semen.
