Advances in Semen Dilution

P. Shannon

New Zealand Dairy Board, Newstead, Hamilton

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1968, 28: 23-31

This has had far-reaching effects on bull coverage. In 1960, the average number of inseminations per bull was 4,000; in 1967, the figure will be considerably more than 20,000, and the six top-rated Jersey bulls will average in excess of 40,000 inseminations each. Apart from the increase in ratings which has resulted from this increase, there has also been a substantial saving in operating costs. This is estimated to be some $200,000 annually.

Further reductions in dose rate appear possible on the basis of recent experiments. A reduction to 1.5 million sperm per insemination would increase the coverage of top-rated sires to between 80 and 90.000 inseminations. Use of rediluted deep-frozen semen would further increase the coverage and obviate the need for further bulls.

In 1966. three bulls in the Artificial Breeding Scheme reached a lifetime total of 100,000 inseminations. By the early 197Os, it can reasonably be expected that this will be the average annual coverage per bull.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;