Stephen Butler joins us to discuss the role of sexed semen in Irish dairy herds. Stephen gave an insight into the sexed semen trial that took place during the breeding season of 2018. 

He explained the differences compared with the 2013 trial including the increase in semen quantity from 2 million to 4 million sperm. Conception rates from sexed straws remain lower than conventional straws, with a relative conception rate of 76% which is similar to previous studies. 

Stephen addressed the cost of sexed straws which are double that of conventional, but explained where sexed straws are used, less dairy straws are required so farmers have the opportunity to use cheaper beef straws, meaning the overall cost of straws can remain the same. 

For more information:

[https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/What-role-can-sexed-semen-play---National-Dairy-Conference-2018.pptx.pdf](https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2018/What-role-can-sexed-semen-play---National-Dairy-Conference-2018.pptx.pdf)