Sexed semen can be successfully used to increase the number of dairy female replacements born and to reduce the number of bull calves born. In this short clip, George Ramsbottom of Teagasc outlines the benefits and challenges of using sexed semen.

Teagasc recommends that maiden heifers are bred with dairy AI because they are the most fertile animals in the herd and they have the highest EBI. Make sure to target your heifers with sexed or conventional dairy AI to maximise the rate of genetic gain in your herd.

New dairy breeding guidelines have been sent to herd owners for Spring 2021 season. The guidelines have been developed by a Department of Agriculture working group involving key stakeholders such as the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc, ICBF and the broader industry. The guidelines include six simple steps which if followed will ensure the continued improvement of your dairy herd into the future. In this short clip, Andrew Cromie of ICBF outlines these six steps.