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Received: 27 March, 2019 Revised: 23 July, 2019 Accepted: 26 July, 2019
ABSTRACT
To analyse the effect of sexed semen on different breeds used in artificial insemination following study was conducted using sexed semen from seven different breeds for artificial insemination in females. All bulls used for sexing by ABS India were genomically tested for Holstein and Jersey breeds. A total of 3034 inseminations with Sexcel were performed with 2589 inseminations in dairy cows and 445 in buffaloes. The conception rate of sexed semen using confirmative pregnancy diagnosis (using peri rectal examination) at 90 days post insemination both in cows and buffaloes was recorded. Sex of the calf was recorded after the birth in each case. The results of conception rate (CR) and pregnancy rate evaluation in different breeds were recorded. The results revealed the average conception rate of Sexcel semen is 49.1% (ranging from 45.1 to 55.3%) in cows and 42.7 % in buffaloes. These figures show a cumulative picture wherein sexed semen was used in animals of different parities (Both primiparous and pluriparous). The current study provides ample insights into the conception rate using sexed semen under various agro climatic conditions in different breeds. The study showed that sexed semen gives good conception in animals of one to three parities provided they are reproductively clean and possess good fertility.
Keywords: Sexed semen, Conception rate (CR), Farm Animals, Economics, Sexcel-ABS
The goal of using sexed semen is to produce a calf of a specific gender. It is almost 30 years since the first use of sexed semen was reported in the U.S. The technology has progressed considerably since then several organizations and researchers collaborating to eventually bring this to reality. The technical challenges limited the use of the sexed semen to heifers in the early years, but the usage spread to cows of different parity in the later years with reasonable amount of success. Comparing fertility of sexed semen with conventional semen has been a concern of the industry but the gap appears to have been substantially reduced due to latest cutting-edge technologies. The introduction of sexed semen was done by US commercial organizations in 2005 (Cassel, 2005; DeJarnette et al., 2009).
Sexed semen is produced in India for the first time under...