Sexed semen use increased by just over 5% in 2024, well behind the over 100% increase recorded in 2023 according to Teagasc.

Speaking at the Teagasc national dairy conference in November, Teagasc’s Stephen Butler said the established of a second permanent sexed semen sorting lab in Dovea means there is more than adequate capacity to now meet the demand for sexed semen for bulls standing in Ireland.

Stephen said that there was 280,000 sexed straws sold in 2023, rising to approximately 300,000 in 2024 and he predicts a gradual increase over the coming years with 350,000 straws in 2025 and 400,000 straws in 2026.

He said that in 2021 49.1% of dairy calves from a dairy sire born were male as there was little or no sexed semen used. Based on the above projections he said he expects this to reduce to 37.5% in 2026.

“In a short period of time we are going from 418,000 down to 252,000 male dairy calves being born which is a 160,000 reduction in male dairy calves which can be replaced with a beef cross calf and allay some of these concerns with male dairy calves,” he said.

He said it is possible with sexed semen to generate all of the dairy replacements required but that we would still be getting 10% male calves as it is 90% accurate. He said farmers would need to be using over 800,000 sexed straws to do that and he said we are a long way from that now.

When asked if the demand for extra dairy beef animals will be there, he said dairy farmers need to deliver a good calf that will generate revenue for beef farmers;

“There is land there, so as dairy farmers you need to deliver a product [calf] that’s attractive to the beef farmer.

“As dairy farmers you need a viable beef industry because you are creating these animals. There are things outside of your control that may dictate the future.

“Shipping is an issue, the European Union rules are an issue which may tell you that no animals are going on a boat and that’s a decision you might not be involved in the making of but it will have an implication for the calves that you’re producing,” he said.

On the practicalities of sexed semen use, Stephen said it’s critically important that the correct procedure is followed when using sexed semen.

He said the correct time to inseminate with sexed semen is 14 to 20 hours after the onset of heat and only use sexed semen on cows that have the best chance of going in-calf.

He said farmers should use two sexed semen straws for every one heifer calf required.