STOCK SEXED SEMEN
“We’re asking dairy farmers to consider the importance of their beef genetics just like they do with their dairy genetics.” Left: Black and white magic: Dairy Belgian Blue Friesian cross R1s from non-sexed beef semen.
Greg said the short gestation bulls estimated breeding values (EBVs) still had the same high growth rates as the other beef breeds offered. “The shorter gestation length does not affect the resulting calf’s ability to grow.”
BEEF SEXING TECHNOLOGY
Dairying up the beef semen industry Words and photos by: Karen Trebilcock
B
eef rearers will be all smiles about the changes a dairy genetics company is making. LIC for the first time will be offering male sexed beef semen this season but it won’t just be any beef. Short gestation Hereford and Angus, as well as Belgian Blue, Speckle Park, Hereford, Profit Maker® and Simmental straws will be available and all of the bulls have been chosen for their calving ease and their growth rates. “Just like we’re seeing with dairy, through the world of genomics we’re getting better choices of beef bulls,” LIC genetics business manager Greg Hamill said. 74
“We’ve picked them for ease of calving and for gestation length but also because these bulls have great feed efficiencies, converting feed into meat at a more efficient rate, so they will be sought after by rearers and finishers.” The Rissington Cattle Company of Napier has supplied the Short Gestation Angus bull, the Profit Maker® and the Simmentals. Other breeds are from Shrimpton’s Hill, Maungahina and their own polled Belgian Blue bull. The short gestation Hereford and Angus straws give both breeds the advantage of a beef calf as well as additional days in milk, allowing the cow more time to recover before the next mating season.
Although sexing technology has been around for some time, the farming of the beef bulls by LIC through partnerships with beef breeders has made male beef sexed semen possible. The straws will be frozen and processed during the winter to be ready for the spring breeding season. Orders from farmers will have to be in by August. “We’ve had farmers asking for sexed beef for some time but we’ll really see what the demand is for it this year.” The semen is sexed using Sexing Technologies in Hamilton and Greg said the machines were busy all year either processing fresh dairy straws in the breeding season or frozen straws for domestic and international supply during the rest of the year. “International demand is incredibly strong as overseas cows, with their generally lower fertility and fewer lactations and so therefore fewer calves, have less ability to replace themselves. “In New Zealand, cows have on average five and a half lactations which is why we have the ability to supply beef from less productive cows generating additional animals for the dairy beef market.”
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | May 2021
