Sexed semen

Why isn't there more (club calf) sexed semen available? Is it because the bulls never live long enough to find out if they become popular? Or in the instance of heatwaves or whatever. ......bull calves would be bigger and more apt to kill the cow but heifer calves couldn't be sold as steers of course and could be carriers while probably having big calves. How about doublestuff. Seems like it would be cool to get sexed semen from him. Thanks in advance.

I think it is more than coincidence... if sexed semen was widely available for steers and heifers it would make club calf and heifer husbandry much more efficient ( twice as many steers per mating or thereabouts) I think that the big producers aren't very tickled at the prospect of making us all more efficient.... I am still waiting for a chance to partner or buy from a company that will select bulls , contract for semen and market both heifer and bull sexed semen.... looks like a great spot for a start up  or expansion... I can only suppose that the bull owners aren't very excited about it

aj said:

Why isn't there more (club calf) sexed semen available? Is it because the bulls never live long enough to find out if they become popular? Or in the instance of heatwaves or whatever. ......bull calves would be bigger and more apt to kill the cow but heifer calves couldn't be sold as steers of course and could be carriers while probably having big calves. How about doublestuff. Seems like it would be cool to get sexed semen from him. Thanks in advance.

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When sexing semen the ORIGINAL SAMPLE has to be of AWESOME QUALITY.....since it is being cut so much......and many club calf bulls original sample is barely good enough to settle cows in its entirety.  There ARE exceptions to the rule.....but NOT MANY!

One reason most people don't know about why they don't sex semen more on bulls is that when you run the semen through the machine (flow cytometer I believe), you end up having to throw out 90% of what you started with. Basically take a cane of semen and use only 1 straw and throw away the rest. So, in order to keep sales up they would have to increase prices on the semen 10 times. Would you spend $250 a straw for sexed semen versus $25 for regular? Also, the more the semen gets handled the more likely it will be damaged and not be quite as fertile. Others on here might know the process better but that is how I understand why there isn't more sexed semen. The dairy side of things has more sexed semen but is normally not on the very top bulls is what the dairy guys tell me.

Brad... I got it that it takes a lot more raw semen to produce a "dose" of sexed semen.... and only some sires have sufficient quality of semen to allow sexing of semen.......When a bull is at the semen collecting site is there a limit or almost no limit as to supply of raw semen? does that vary with the bull? For instance, are most of the possible units on premium Blend (or pick a bull) being collected and sold or only 5-10 % of his possible production?

Brad, I was hoping you would respond... I know you are very knowledgeable and will shoot straight... another question comes to mind... if a bull is listed in a book (say Genetic Horizons or pick a company) would there be a problem with another company selling sexed semen on that bull?

Genetic Horizons is a non-exclusive as are Cattle Visions, Top Sires, etc.  Genex, ABS, Select lineup bulls (Angus, Simm, etc) are almost always exclusive meaning only that company sells them.  ABS buys and resells some, Genex takes some non-owned bulls in on consignment if it was collected at one of their sites.

Brad's right, most young club calf bulls aren't good enough quality to sort. 

so... are any of the club calf bulls sufficient quality and quantity to sort.... if so ... seems like he would be in demand... would I pay more for bull sorted semen, sure... it costs me about 700 dollars to get a calf out of one of my cows... an extra hundred or so to have a 80% chance of having the chosen sex would probably be worth it to  me

jbzdad said:

Brad... I got it that it takes a lot more raw semen to produce a "dose" of sexed semen.... and only some sires have sufficient quality of semen to allow sexing of semen.......When a bull is at the semen collecting site is there a limit or almost no limit as to supply of raw semen? does that vary with the bull? For instance, are most of the possible units on premium Blend (or pick a bull) being collected and sold or only 5-10 % of his possible production?

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Generally when the bull is at stud he is jumped twice a week.......The bull owner tells the stud how much frozen inventory they would like on the sire, and that amount is attained in the most productive way the collection facility sees fit.  ALL BULLS ARE DIFFERENT in the quantity, quality and ability to collect....there is truely a science behind the science of collecting a bull.  These guys don't get near enough credit for their ability....because there are alot of tricks....especially with clubby type bulls.

The purebred bulls "generally" will produce more semen than the crossbreds.....but there are exceptions to every rule.  Generally once the desired amount of semen has been banked....the bull is then removed from stud and used naturally......unless the animal is at the top of the game and then they rarely leave stud.