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Whenever possible, your columnist attempts to provide a title that is concise but instantly attracts readers. This week’s title might be my most successful attempt to date of gaining the attention of News-Gazette subscribers. Hopefully the truth in the title will lead to informative insight for those of you that choose to read further.
In animal agriculture, sexed semen is technology that has been a reality for over a decade. When female livestock are made pregnant by artificial insemination, it is now possible to utilize semen that has been sorted so it contains only sperm carrying Y-chromosomes (resulting in males) or only sperm with X-chromosomes (resulting in females). This sorting process is accomplished using fluorescent dye and a process called flow cytometry and around 90% accurate.
This technology has been transformative for the dairy industry allowing dairy farmers to breed cows specifically to raise daughters (needed as replacement cows) and reduce the number of bull calves born which are not as valuable. Many dairy cows that are not the top milk producers in a herd are now bred to beef bulls which makes their calves more valuable on the beef market and the most productive dairy cows can be selectively bred with assurance they will have female calves.
The capacity of the cattle breeding business to sort semen and its costs to do so have come down where this technology is within practical reach of commercial beef cattle producers. Sexed semen can allow commercial beef producers to breed their highest performing cows with 90% confidence their calves will be the replacement heifers (or bulls) they need. Male calves sold for beef are generally more valuable so the opportunity now exists to generate a higher percentage of males (which will be castrated and marketed as steers) and the best cows in the herd can be selectively bred to produce daughters that will replace aging cows in the herd.
While artificial insemination has been widely utilized in cattle for over 60 years, it demands attentive management and adequate animal handling facilities in order to be successful. Sexed semen technology now provides additional incentive to utilize artificial insemination with assurance of more rapid achievement of breeding goals.
The Rockbridge Cattlemen’s Association will host a seminar on sexed semen technology to help commercial cattlemen determine if now is the time for them to capitalize on this new productivity tool. The seminar will be held Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 6 p.m. at the Raphine Volunteer Fire Company, 2130 Raphine Road. The featured speaker will be Sarah Morton, a cattle breeding specialist with American Breeders Service (ABS). The program is free but please pre-register by email to [email protected] or call the Rockbridge Extension office at (540) 463-4734. Any small donations to help cover the costs of the refreshments and facility will be appreciated.
Farm Budget Tools
The Virginia Cooperative Extension website for Rockbridge County has some useful electronic farm budgeting tools that can be helpful with farm planning for the upcoming year. Simply go to https://rockbridge.ext.vt.edu/ and scroll down then click on ‘Budget Tool Templates’. Contact Tom Stanley for assistance utilizing these resources.
Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
