The extent of increase in first calving age as a result of implementing various sexed semen breeding strategies
Abstract
A deterministic simulation was conducted to assess the effects of sexed semen utilization strategies on age at first calving (AFC). Four different strategies were implemented on dairy heifers: continuous use of conventional semen only (CC), continuous use of sexed semen only (SS), utilization of sexed semen for both the first and second services with conventional semen afterwards (S2), and utilization of sexed semen for the first service with conventional semen afterwards (S1). Results indicated that continuous utilization of sexed semen led to the greatest AFC; however at high conception rates, strategies displayed negligible differences on AFC. Increases in estrus detection rate had the greatest effects on decreasing AFC of the SS scenarios. Negative effect of sexed semen on AFC increased when the effect of low estrus detection rate was combined with low conception rate of sexed semen. Results indicated that in the case of access to sexed semen conception rate, prediction of AFC is possible by quadratic polynomial or exponential equations, depending to the applied breeding strategy. Simultaneous utilization of sexed and conventional semen in a herd did not make a substantial change in AFC when a low percentage of sexed semen was employed. Increasing the contribution of different sexed semen strategies led to higher AFC variation, especially for the SS strategy. AFC of strategies that utilize sexed semen is highly dependent on the conception rate, estrus detection rate and the contribution of sex sorted semen in the total number of inseminations of the heifer herd.Downloads
References
Andersson M, Taponen J, Kommeri M, Dahlbom M, 2006. Pregnancy rates in lactating Holstein–Friesian cows after artificial insemination with sexed sperm. Reprod Domest Anim 41: 95-97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2006.00625.x
Baker RL, Shannon P, Garrick DJ, Blair HT, Wickham BW, 1990. The future impact of new opportunities in reproductive physiology and molecular biology on genetic improvement programmes. Proc New Zealand Soc Anim Prod 50: 197-210.
Bodmer M, Janett F, Hässig M, Daas ND, Reichert P, Thun R, 2005. Fertility in heifers and cows after low dose insemination with sex-sorted and non-sorted sperm under field conditions. Theriogenology 64: 1647-1655. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.04.011
Borchersen S, Peacock M, 2009. Danish A.I. field data with sexed semen. Theriogenology 71: 59-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.09.026
Cassell B, 2005. Does sexed semen have a role in your breeding program? Hoard's Dairyman 150: 396.
Chebel RC, Guagnini FS, Santos JEP, Fetrow JP, Lima JR, 2010. Sex-sorted semen for dairy heifers: Effects on reproductive and lactational performances. J Dairy Sci 93: 2496-2507. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2858
DeJarnette JM, 2005. Sexed semen: is it finally a reality? Select Sires Selections, January: 8-9.
DeJarnette JM, Nebel RL, Marshall CE, 2009. Evaluating the success of sex-sorted semen in US dairy herds from on farm records. Theriogenology 71: 49-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.09.042
DeJarnette JM, Leach MA, Nebel RL, Marshall CE, Mccleary CR, Moreno JF, 2011. Effects of sex-sorting and sperm dosage on conception rates of Holstein heifers: Is comparable fertility of sex-sorted and conventional semen plausible? J Dairy Sci 94: 3477-3483. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2011-4214
De Vries A, Overton M, Fetrow K, Leslie K, Eicker S, Rogers G, 2008. Exploring the impact of sexed semen on the structure of the dairy industry. J Dairy Sci 91: 847-856. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2007-0536
Ettema JF, Santos JEP, 2004. Impact of age at calving on lactation, reproduction, health, and income in first-parity Holsteins on commercial farms. J Dairy Sci 87: 2730-2742. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73400-1
Fetrow J, Overton M, Eicker S, 2007. Sexed semen: economics of a new technology. Proc Western Dairy Management Conference, March 7-9, Reno, NV, USA. Available at http://www.wdmc.org/2007/fetrow.pdf. [25 March 2013].
Fricke PM, 2004. Strategies for optimizing reproductive management of dairy heifers. Adv Dairy Tech 16. Available in http://www.uwex.edu/ces/dairyrepro/documents/ConfStrategies.pdf. [15 March 2013].
Frijters ACJ, Mullaart E, Roelofs RMG, Van Hoorne RP, Moreno JF, Moreno O, Merton JS, 2009. What affects fertility of sexed bull semen more, low sperm dosage or the sorting process? Theriogenology 71: 64-67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.09.025
Garner DL, Seidel GE Jr, 2003. Past, present and future perspectives on sexing sperm. Can J Anim Sci 83: 375-384. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/A03-022
Hohenboken W D, 1999. Applications of sexed semen in cattle production. Theriogenology 52: 1421-1433. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0093-691X(99)00227-7
Kemmer C, Fluri DA, Witschi U, Passeraub A, Gutzwiller A, Fussenegger M, 2011. A designer network coordinating bovine artificial insemination by ovulation-triggered release of implanted sperms. J Controlled Release 150: 23-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2010.11.016
Mohd Nor N, Steeneveld W, van Werven T, Mourits MCM, Hogeveen H, 2013. First-calving age and first-lactation milk production on dutch dairy farms. J Dairy Sci 96: 981-992. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2012-5741
Moore K, Thatcher WW, 2006. Major advances associated with reproduction in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 89: 1254-1266. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72194-4
Nilforooshan MA, Edriss MA, 2004. Effect of age at first calving on some productive and longevity traits in Iranian Holsteins of the Isfahan province. J Dairy Sci 87: 2130-2135. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)70032-6
Norman HD, Hutchison JL, Miller, RH, 2010. Use of sexed semen and its effect on conception rate, calf sex, dystocia, and stillbirth of Holsteins in the United States. J Dairy Sci 93: 3880-3890. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2781
Olynk NJ, Wolf CA, 2007. Expected net present value of pure and mixed sexed semen artificial insemination strategies in dairy heifers. J Dairy Sci 90: 2569-2576. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2006-460
Plaizier JCB, King GJ, Dekkers JCM, Lissemore K, 1997. Estimation of economic values of indices for reproductive performance in dairy herds using computer simulation. J Dairy Sci 80: 2775-2783. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(97)76240-4
Richardson AM, Hensley BA, Marple TJ, Johnson SK, Stevenson JS, 2002. Characteristics of estrus before and after first insemination and fertility of heifers after synchronized estrus using GnRH, PGF2α, and progesterone. J Anim Sci 80: 2792-2800.
Ryan DP, Boland MP, 1991. Frequency of twin births among Holstein-Friesian cows in a warm dry climate. Theriogenology 36: 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0093-691X(91)90428-G
Seidel GE Jr, 2003. Sexing mammalian sperm-intertwining of commerce, technology, and biology. Anim Reprod Sci 79: 145-156. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4320(03)00162-3
Seidel GE Jr, 2007. Overview of sexing sperm. Theriogenology 68: 443-446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2007.04.005
Seidel GE Jr, Garner C, 2002. Current status of sexing mammalian spermatozoa. Reproduction 124: 733-743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/rep.0.1240733
Seidel GE Jr, Schenk JL, 2002. Field trials with sexed, frozen bovine semen. 19th Technol Conf Artif Insemination Reprod, Natl Assoc Anim Breeders, Columbia, MO, USA. pp: 64-69.
Tubman LM, Brink Z, Suh TK, Seidel GE, 2004. Characteristics of calves produced with sperm sexed by flow cytometry/cell sorting. J Anim Sci 82: 1029-1036.
Weigel KA, 2004. Exploring the role of sexed semen in dairy production systems. J Dairy Sci 87: E120-E130. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)70067-3
© CSIC. Manuscripts published are the property of Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and quoting this source is a requirement for any partial or full reproduction.
SJAR is an Open Access Journal. All articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License. You may read here the basic information and the legal text of the license. The indication of the license CC-by must be expressly stated in this way when necessary.
