sexed semen

[Jockers84]

Good evening, I have another question that I've been pondering for a while.

I was wondering if you use male sexed semen but get a heifer calf, is there more risk of it being a freemartin or having fertility issues?

Probably a totally ridiculous query to those that are more informed on the subject but.... I can't be bothered doing the research myself .

Thanks

 

[AGN76]

No
No

 

[Sandpit Farm]

As above, absolutely no reason why that would happen.

Sperm are either ‘X’ or ‘Y’. It’s random when you use a bull. The ‘sexing’ process just means you use the ‘X’ ones for female or ‘Y’ ones for male.

Free Martin’s are only created during the developmental stage. As I understand it - it isn’t genetic.

 

[Jockers84]

As above, absolutely no reason why that would happen.

Sperm are either ‘X’ or ‘Y’. It’s random when you use a bull. The ‘sexing’ process just means you use the ‘X’ ones for female or ‘Y’ ones for male.

Free Martin’s are only created during the developmental stage. As I understand it - it isn’t genetic.

Perfect, thank you for the reply. What you've said makes sense, I suppose if there was any sort of negative effects it would have been well documented during trials.

I don't suppose you know how they manage to split the 'X' & 'Y' sperm?

I've been told that when using IVF embryos there can be an increase in calf size and dopiness due to the carrier fluid used. I very much doubt it as it's a different procedure & process but does sexing semen use any sort of carrier fluid or is it just what's harvested and selected from the sire?

 

[Wisconsonian]

No clue about IVF. All AI uses a carrier fluid of sorts, even if not frozen, the semen will be cut and extended to service more females than the bull would have been able to on his own. Egg and milk were used at one time, probably use more advanced formulas commercially.

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Perfect, thank you for the reply. What you've said makes sense, I suppose if there was any sort of negative effects it would have been well documented during trials.

I don't suppose you know how they manage to split the 'X' & 'Y' sperm?

I've been told that when using IVF embryos there can be an increase in calf size and dopiness due to the carrier fluid used. I very much doubt it as it's a different procedure & process but does sexing semen use any sort of carrier fluid or is it just what's harvested and selected from the sire?

I’m certainly not a fountain of knowledge on this so could be wrong. As stated above, there is a carrier fluid as it has to be frozen down slowly without crystals or the spermatozoa would be damaged.

Basically Sperm cells are charged particles (well the DNA is). X has greater mass than Y so is more charged (not sure if it is positive or negative). They put it on a machine called a flow cytometer and each cell goes through a tube where the charge is detected.

Some technologies ‘zapp’ the Y cells so they are still in the sample but inactive. Other technologies use an anode to attract/repel the more charged particles and literally sort them into two pots. Others, like 4M, ensure there are 4 million sperm cells (2 million or less is standard) of the right sex in the pot.

Somebody may be along to correct some of this but that’s the gist of it as I see it.

 

[Danllan]

...I don't suppose you know how they manage to split the 'X' & 'Y' sperm?...

Genus AI man gave me a basic explanation that tallies with the above.

 

[upnortheast]

Freemartins occur when there are mixed twins in the uterus, so no chance with sexed semen

 

[Jockers84]

Spot on folks, thanks for the explanations.

Regards