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| The Univ. of Idaho / Nancy M. Cummings Center just got done doing a study on their beef herd. John B. Hall, Ph.D. Extension Beef Specialist. He said their preg. rates on postpartum lactating beef cows w/ sexed semen over three breeding seasons avg. 52 % (range 48% to 58%). While conventional semen averaged 58% (range 52% to 68%). Most of the 235 cows were bred with a fixed-time A I protocol. Other researchers had preg. rates ranging from 30% to 55%. They felt producers can expect a reduction in A I preg. rates of 10 to 20 % with sexed semen compared to conventional semen. You can get a hold of Dr. John Hall at [email protected] .
I know that in my first calf beef and hol. heifers I get 80 to 85% preg. rates on first cycle with bulls. Why would I want to mess with that? I use all bulls on dairy here. What I pay for dairy bulls vs. cull price on them when I rotate them out, is just about a wash. It's costing the price of feed to keep them on the farm. That's a lot easier for me than having to try and A I cows when I'm not around all day.
It's all about if you are comfortable with handling bulls on your farm. We treat them with respect, never turn your back on them. We nose ring them, and use and get rid of them at about two years of age or a little older. We train bulls to walk away from cows when gathering them to go to barn. | |
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Sexed dairy seman
