Sexed semen AI results
- Thread starter Wild Rivers Whitetails
- Start date
Joined Apr 2009
1,428 Posts | 0+
Northeast Wisconsin
Several years ago when sexed semen was first being tried we used frozen sexed semen and AI'd in the chute. I don't remember how many does we did, I want to say 20 and only a couple took. Otherwise we average 75-80 percent conception on our AI.
Tinney, my understanding they have gone from 3mil to 10 mil lately, I think in the time frame Gary and Jane did the semen it would have been in the 3 mil range. If I may put that out. I did LAP 10 does, got 3 of 10 and all my other breedings were 70% percent conception rate using LAP. Sounds as though fresh semen works great with Matt K info. I have done the econ of it and at $7000 draw plus other expenses does not work for me. I did my analaysis on 100 does, 50% conception with 1.3 fawns weaned at end of year I barely broke even, with the feed bill. SO it has to be better than the current numbers.
Joined Apr 2009
1,428 Posts | 0+
Northeast Wisconsin
That is exactly right Alex. I'd have to check on the count on our sexed semen to see what it is.
Even though we all want more bucks, it has to be cost effective. Lap AI is expensive compared to in the chute, add the cost of sexing semen and the semen draw and you have to have some pretty good results to make it worth while. Maybe it will get there. I started this post to see if things had improved significantly or what was happening now.
Even though we all want more bucks, it has to be cost effective. Lap AI is expensive compared to in the chute, add the cost of sexing semen and the semen draw and you have to have some pretty good results to make it worth while. Maybe it will get there. I started this post to see if things had improved significantly or what was happening now.
Joined Apr 2009
2,617 Posts | 0+
Edgar, WI
I am not really sure what my position on sexed semen is. I am not sure it actually leads the industry towards a bad path or not. My initial thought is maybe using conventional semen or live breeding could be worse than a controlled program of sexed semen. After all do we really need more females flooding the market? It seems to me there is at least a better end market for bucks than there is for an overabundance of does. Again just an initial thought as I am not sure what my position really is on the topic yet.
Joined Apr 2009
1,428 Posts | 0+
Northeast Wisconsin
We will be using sexed semen on about half of our does this year. I know it is still to early to be proven but I believe if conception rates are anywhere near conventional semen that it will definitely be the future of deer farming. It will allow you to raise the same number if bucks with less does and will also help the breeder market becuase there will be fewer does on the market. My plans for the next few years are to ai all but a few top end does to sexed semen. This should completely eliminate any mediocre doe fawns on our farm and will probably have us looking to buy 2or 3 top end does every year. Just my opinion. I may be completely off course.
Gary, your post was right on, good start. I have used, costed and etc. As you say it is not at a point where it is cost effective, to draw and process to reduce your herd size for shooting bucks. I see some prices on sexed semen that seems reasonable and if someone needs a breeder class buck genetics with the right crosses I think it may have a need. The cattle guys developed this because they wanted Heifers not bull calfs they gave away so that was their need. If someone is building a great doe base they might want twin does out of breedings versus 50/50 chance or twin bucks, to work toward. Just my two cents.
Quick response: I was very fortunate with our results this past year using sexed semen. For years I have been able *** the outcome of a straw of semen just by looking at it. I have been about 50% accurate. FYI - I did about 22 - all with frozen sexed and hit on about 70-75% and averaged 1.7 fawns per adult doe. 100% on gender. I used both female and male.- I still love having real good doe fawns. Then we did 12 fawns (plus 80 lbs.) Lap with frozen sexed and hit on 6- all singles and on gender we were 100% until the very last fawn born. It was a girl out of male semen- but hey- that's OK remember I love have good doe fawns. As long as we're talking about this I will add this- Sexed is packed at 10 mil. Me liking to experiment I Laped 6 of the adults while splitting frozen sexed semen into 2 does each. I only did this because I was breeding with Energizer sexed and then using Energizer for clean-up. Hit on 5 of 6.
I feel all this info is new and numbers are way to small to prove anything. I believe there is a lot more involve in getting these girl to stick than worrying about fresh or frozen or how many sperm or who is putting it there. I think Curt referred to " a good AI program"- really I think nutrition, stress, girls cycling and IN heat and timing are all part of the equation as well as history. I will let you know if your interested how we do this year. I plan to experiment with fresh sexed and well as frozen.
Right or wrong I believe sexed semen is here to stay- I really like breeding my best does to female sexed - the next tier to conventional- and the lower tier to sexed male. We'll see how it goes.
Ward
I feel all this info is new and numbers are way to small to prove anything. I believe there is a lot more involve in getting these girl to stick than worrying about fresh or frozen or how many sperm or who is putting it there. I think Curt referred to " a good AI program"- really I think nutrition, stress, girls cycling and IN heat and timing are all part of the equation as well as history. I will let you know if your interested how we do this year. I plan to experiment with fresh sexed and well as frozen.
Right or wrong I believe sexed semen is here to stay- I really like breeding my best does to female sexed - the next tier to conventional- and the lower tier to sexed male. We'll see how it goes.
Ward
