Dairy Semen Research Articles

Beef on dairy and sexed semen strategies

The use of sexed dairy semen and beef semen on dairies as tools to generate genetic progress and expand revenue has evolved tremendously over the past decade to the point these tools have become integrated as part of a finely managed pro­cess often referred to as the “sexed and beef” model. Continued improvements in gender-sorting techniques and increased fer­tility of resulting products have enabled this model to evolve to become standard operating procedure for the bulk of com­mercial dairies. Planned use of gender-sorted semen allows for controlled and targeted creation of an ideal number of heifers from a specific genetic source. Reproductive programs that improve fertility of these matings in conjunction with gender sorted product that leads to high dairy heifer ratios leads to the opportunity to utilize beef semen to expand revenue potential of crossbred beef x dairy calves above that of a dairy counter­part. This talk will cover programmatic considerations to drive success of “sexed and beef” programs on dairies utilizing these tools to a) accurately calculate and plan to create heifer needs; b) optimize genetic progress and revenue generation; and c) en­large the value of beef x dairy crossbred sire selection..

Effects of herd management decisions on dairy cow longevity, farm profitability, and emissions of enteric methane – a simulation study of milk and beef production

Sustainable dairy and beef production provides environmental, economic, and social values that can potentially be maximized by optimizing herd management strategies. The length of a dairy cow’s life is affected by, and affects, all three pillars of sustainability. Longevity in dairy cows is multifactorial and strongly dependent on herd management. Despite genetic improvements, the average time of culling for Swedish cows has barely changed and is currently at 2.6 lactations. This culling rate requires a high number of replacement heifers, generating high rearing costs for farmers. This study evaluated different herd management strategies to improve cow longevity and assessed the effects on enteric methane (CH4) emissions from the herd and the profitability of milk production and beef production from the dairy cows and their offspring. The base scenario, an average Swedish Holstein herd of 100 cows, was compared with seven scenarios simulated using a stochastic herd simulation model (SimHerd). Two of these scenarios involved improved health and survival of cows in the herd, three involved improved reproduction, one considered the consequences of keeping all surplus heifers in the herd, and one considered maximizing the use of X-sorted dairy semen and inseminating the rest of the herd with unsorted beef semen, to avoid surplus replacement heifers. Improved fertility had the greatest effect in increasing the productive life per cow, to 3.8 years compared with 2.8 in the base scenario, allowed for more use of beef semen, reduced the number of replacement heifers, and generated the highest herd profit (€98 per cow-year higher than base scenario). Keeping all surplus heifers instead of producing beef × dairy cross calves decreased the number of productive years by 0.8 and reduced profit by €22 per cow-year. The profit was highly associated with costs related to replacement heifers. The highest beef output (3 369 kg per year more than base scenario) was achieved by keeping all heifers and culling a high share of dairy cows, but this scenario also generated much higher enteric CH4 emissions (+1 257 kg per year). Improving health, survival, or fertility reduced enteric CH4 emissions by 90–255 kg per year, while total yearly beef production ranged from 59 kg less to 556 kg more than in the base scenario. Reducing the number of replacement heifers needed by improving cow reproductive performance is thus key to increasing cow longevity and profitability, while reducing enteric CH4 emissions from the herd without compromising milk and meat production.

Using mid-infrared spectroscopy to identify more fertile cows for insemination to sexed semen

Context Broader applications of milk mid-infrared spectral data could add value to milk-recording data. One such application is to rank cows on the probability of conception to first service (MFERT) which could help prioritise cows for insemination with dairy sexed semen (SS). Aims This study compared the use of MFERT estimates against two other approaches, to (1) identify most and least fertile dairy cows and (2) prioritise cows predicted to be most fertile for first service insemination with SS. Methods Mid-infrared spectral data from first herd test after calving was used to generate 13 379 MFERT predictions for 76 cohorts. Reproduction records were used to calculate reproductive parameters, calf numbers and net benefit, i.e. calf values minus mating costs, for two breeding programs. Breeding program 1 used SS and conventional dairy semen, while Breeding program 2 used SS, conventional dairy and beef semen. Three semen-allocation approaches were compared, namely, allocation via MFERT, calving date (CDATE) or assignment via random number generator (RANDOM). Key results MFERT significantly outperformed (1) RANDOM in identifying cows most and least likely to calf after first insemination (P < 0.05), and (2) both CDATE and RANDOM in identifying cows most and least likely to calf overall (P < 0.05). This resulted in up to 1.5 and 4.5 more dairy heifer calves, in Breeding programs 1 and 2 respectively, and up to six fewer dairy-beef calves in Breeding program 2. Differences in net benefit among semen-allocation approaches were modest, although generally favoured MFERT. Few significant differences between MFERT and CDATE were found. However, significant net benefit differences among all three semen-allocation approaches were seen in Breeding program 2. Conclusions MFERT outperformed CDATE and RANDOM in identifying most and least fertile cows. Realised net benefits of semen allocation by MFERT over other approaches were modest. Given the impact of semen type and dairy-beef calf prices value proposition will vary. Implications Our study confirmed that MFERT can add value to milk recording data by identifying the most and least fertile cows. As MFERT value is sensitive to individual farm parameters, incorporation alongside other fertility parameters into a decision support tool is desirable.

233 Feeding and Managing Dairy Cattle Genetics for Beef

Abstract The contribution of dairy steers to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased over the last 2 decades. In part, due to declining beef cow numbers and increased use of sexed dairy semen to produce genetically superior replacement heifers from the best dairy cows in the herd. Raising dairy cattle for beef production offers unique opportunities and challenges when compared with feeding native beef cattle. Dairy steers offer predictable and uniform feedlot performance (ADG, DMI, G:F) as a group, and improved quality grades compared with their native beef counterparts. However, dairy steers yield less red meat compared with native beef cattle due to a greater ratio of bone to muscle, internal fat, organ size, and gastrointestinal tract weight. Dairy steers present carcass size problems in the beef packing industry, with Holstein carcasses being too long and Jersey carcasses being light weight. Beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies are being implemented on some dairy farms to increase the income generated from bull calves and to improve the feed efficiency and yield of beef produced from the U.S. dairy herd. This new model of beef production from the dairy herd is not without its challenges. Early beef × dairy crossbreeding efforts have demonstrated variable results. Successful adoption of beef × dairy crossbreeding in the cattle industry will depend on the proper selection of beef sires that excel in calving ease, growth, muscling, and marbling traits to complement the challenges realized with dairy genetics involved in beef production.

Use of Beef Semen on Dairy Farms: A Cross-Sectional Study on Attitudes of Farmer Toward Breeding Strategies

The use of beef semen on dairy cows has been increasing steadily since 2017. We aimed to describe dairy management practices toward the use of beef semen by surveying farmers in California, the largest US dairy producer. In January 2020, we mailed a printed version of the beef semen use survey to 1,017 dairy producers in California, who also had the option to answer the survey online. The questionnaire consisted of 33 questions that were categorized into three sections: general herd information (n = 10), beef semen management (n = 17), and sexed dairy semen management (n = 6). The response rate was 13.9% (n = 141). Regression models were used to evaluate the associations between the dairy-beef crossbred sale price, use of beef semen, and use of sexed dairy semen vs. herd characteristics. The mean ± SD herd size was 1,693 ± 1,311 milking cows. Most dairies (81%) reported using beef semen on dairy cows. Among respondents, 78% reported extra profit as the main advantage of using beef semen, followed by control of heifer inventory (69%), genetic improvement (37%), and other factors (8%). Most respondents (58%) started using beef semen in the past 3 years and 34% of the respondents were breeding more than 30% of all the eligible cows with beef semen. Angus semen was the most used (reported by 89% of the respondents), followed by Limousin (12%), Wagyu (10%), Charolais (7%), others (5%, Limflex, Stabilizer, and Hereford), and Simmental (4%). Reproductive performance was an important criterion to select cows to receive beef semen and 45% of the respondents reported starting breeding cows with beef semen from the third breeding, 18% on the fourth breeding, and 21% on the fifth or greater breedings. The region of California (a proxy for type of production system) contracts with a calf ranch and the herd breed explained 76.7% of the observed variation in the day-old dairy beef crossbred calf price. Survey results demonstrated the widespread use of beef semen in dairies and the main breeding strategies adopted by dairy farmers.

Replacing the first gonadotropin-releasing hormone treatment in an Ovsynch protocol with human chorionic gonadotropin decreased pregnancies per artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows

Our objective was to compare the effect of treatment with GnRH at the first treatment (G1) of the Breeding-Ovsynch portion of a Double-Ovsynch (DO) protocol with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on pregnancies per artificial insemination (P/AI) in lactating dairy cows. In experiment 1, lactating dairy cows (n = 1,932) submitted to a DO protocol for first timed artificial insemination (TAI) on 2 commercial dairy farms were blocked by parity (primiparous vs. multiparous) and were randomly assigned to receive 100 µg of GnRH versus 2,500 IU of hCG at G1. Overall, P/AI 39 d after TAI for cows inseminated with sexed dairy semen was greater for cows treated with GnRH than for cows treated with hCG within each parity (primiparous: 42.6% vs. 38.2%; multiparous: 39.4% vs. 30.3%). Similarly, P/AI 39 d after TAI for multiparous cows inseminated with conventional beef semen tended to be greater for cows treated with GnRH than for cows treated with hCG (41.1% vs. 34.3%). In experiment 2, lactating Holstein cows (n = 43) were blocked by parity and were randomly assigned to the treatment protocols described for experiment 1. Ovaries were evaluated with transrectal ultrasonography immediately before treatment and 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 h after treatment to assess time from treatment to ovulation, and blood samples were collected immediately before G1, at the first PGF2α treatment, 8 and 16 h later, at the second PGF2α treatment, 8 and 16 h later, at the second GnRH (G2) treatment, and at TAI to compare luteolysis based on serum progesterone (P4) concentrations. Although mean (± standard error of the mean) time from treatment to ovulation was approximately 2 h greater for cows treated with hCG than for cows treated with GnRH (33.7 ± 0.6 vs. 31.5 ± 0.6 h), P4 concentrations during luteolysis and the proportion of cows with complete luteolysis (P4 <0.4 ng/mL at G2) did not differ between treatments. We conclude that replacing 100 µg of GnRH with 2,500 IU of hCG at G1 of a DO protocol decreased fertility to TAI in lactating dairy cows but did not affect the rate or completeness of luteolysis despite the increased interval from treatment to ovulation.

Economic opportunities of using crossbreeding and sexing in Holstein dairy herds

With the increasing availability of sexed semen, farms have the opportunity to select genetically superior dams to produce their replacement animals and to produce crossbred calves for beef production of higher economic value than the remainder of the herd. However, higher costs and reduced fertility of sexed semen complicate the decision of when and to what extent sexed semen should be applied in a herd. The objective of this study was to explore the economically optimal utilization of sexed semen and crossbreeding among North Rhine-Westphalian dairy farms in a holistic single-farm model. For the analysis, we derived a representative sample of farms from Latin Hypercube sampling based on the observed distribution of farm characteristics from official North Rhine-Westphalian Farm Structure Survey data. Market- and technology-related input parameters such as output prices and sexed semen accuracy and fertility were included in the sampling procedure. Modeling results of the systematic sensitivity analysis were evaluated in a statistical meta-model. We found that the profit-maximizing utilization of sexed semen and crossbreeding was highly heterogeneous among the farms. Farms with lower stocking densities, <2 livestock units (LU)/ha, were generally found to produce excess heifers for sale, whereas farms with stocking densities >2 LU/ha were producing crossbred calves and using sexed semen only to produce replacement animals. On average, female-sexed dairy semen was used on 25.3% of all inseminations. Beef semen (both sexed and conventional) for producing crossbred calves was used in an average of 21.5% of the inseminations. The combination of sexed semen and crossbreeding increased profits from €0 to €568 per cow per year, with an average of €79.42 per cow per year. Farms characterized by low stocking densities (<2 LU/ha) and above-average replacement rates (>40%) were found to have higher profit increases as a result of selling more heifers from the use of sexed semen. Overall, sexed semen and crossbreeding adoption were most sensitive to stocking density and average cow longevity, as well as to additional costs for sexed semen and sexed semen accuracy. Our results show the potential of modern breeding technologies to improve dairy farm profits and the need to judge their profitability in the light of farm-specific production settings.

Pure-breeding with sexed semen and crossbreeding with semen of double-muscled sires to improve beef production from dairy herds: Factors affecting heifer and cow fertility and the sex ratio

Using sexed semen to produce purebred replacement heifers makes it possible to mate a large proportion of dairy cows to double-muscled sires and to quantitatively and qualitatively improve beef production and increase the income from dairy herds. Net profit first depends on changes in the farm's overall fertility rate. The objective of this study was to analyze the conception rate in herds using a combination of conventional dairy semen (for pure- and crossbreeding), X-sorted dairy semen (to produce purebred replacement heifers), and conventional beef semen (for terminal crossbreeding). Data were obtained from 50,785 inseminations of 15,580 dairy cows (78% Holstein-Friesian, 15% Brown Swiss, 2% Simmental, and 5% crossbreds) from 106 dairy farms (average milk yield 35.1 ± 9.4 kg/d, with 3.76 ± 0.83% fat and 3.32 ± 0.39% protein contents). To account for the main potential confounders, we used separate generalized linear mixed-effects models for cows and virgin heifers. The results showed that the odds ratio of conception improved (1.00 to 1.34) with an increase in the average milk yield of the herd but worsened (1.12 to 0.70) with an increase in the milk yield of individual cows within herd. The summer months showed a strong reduction in the odds ratio of conception in cows (0.56 in July and August) but not in virgin heifers. Multiparous cows had a lower odds ratio of conception (0.85) than primiparous cows (1.00). The order of insemination did not affect the fertility of the cows or heifers, whereas the odds ratio of conception improved with advancing lactation (1.00 to 2.12). The Simmental cows were more fertile than Holstein-Friesians (1.37 vs. 1.00), whereas the fertility of the heifers was not affected by breed. Taking all these possible confounders into account simultaneously, in pure-breeding the odds ratio of conception using sexed semen did not differ from that using conventional dairy semen in cows (0.90 vs. 1.00) or in virgin heifers (0.95 vs. 1.00). However, crossbreeding using conventional beef and dairy semen improved the odds ratio of conception (1.10 and 1.17, respectively) in cows (1.37 using beef semen) and heifers (1.25 using dairy semen). The proportion of newborn heifer calves was ≥90% using sexed dairy semen. The combined use of sexed semen, especially on heifers, to produce purebred replacement females and beef semen to produce terminal crossbred calves was shown to have the potential to increase overall herd fertility, which could be further improved using sexed dairy semen to produce dairy crossbreds instead of purebred replacement heifers.

Economic Value of Genetic Merit of Dairy Semen

Attempts to calculate the economic value of semen have been made since at least the 1970s. The basic calculations have since become available (Dechow 2016). This new 3-page fact sheet reviews these calculations, adds a few other considerations, and offers estimates of the worth of the genetics of dairy semen. Written by Albert De Vries, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, January 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/an338&#x0D;

50 BOVINE SPERM DEATH KINETICS: TEMPORAL CHANGES IN PRODUCTION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES AND PLASMA MEMBRANE INJURY OF DAIRY AND BEEF FROZEN&amp;ndash;THAWED SEMEN

The extent of changes in sperm structure and function affect the success of fertilization ultimately during the pathway to ovum in the female reproductive tract. The success of AI with frozen-thawed semen varies in dairy and beef breeds of bovine because of differed alterations in sperm during transport in female tract after insemination. To our knowledge, no report is available comparing the changes in dairy and beef sperm leading to death in female tract. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the changes in motility, generation of reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide), and their relation to sperm death [asymmetry (apoptosis) and rupture of plasma membrane] of dairy and beef frozen-thawed semen during incubation at 37°C for 24 h. This incubation was aimed to mimic the environment of female reproductive tract. Frozen dairy semen (n = 4 bulls) was procured from a Canadian breeding station, whereas beef semen was collected from breeding beef bulls (n = 3; 5 replicates), diluted with Tris-based extender (composition was same as used in dairy semen), cooled to +4°C over 90 min, and cryopreserved by programmable freezer using standard rate as used in dairy semen. Two straws per replicate were thawed at 37°C from both types of semen, pooled separately, and incubated at 37°C for 24 h in capped tubes. Each pooled semen sample was evaluated for motility with CASA, superoxide (O2–, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radical using HE/YoPRO and H2DCFDA/PI assay, respectively, and asymmetry of plasma membrane using YoPRO/PI assay through flow cytometric analysis at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h of incubation. The MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was used to analyse the data as 2 × 6 factorial model for 2 types of semen (dairy and beef) and 6 time points using time as repeated measure. A threshold limit of 30% was considered for motility and live sperm to get optimum fertility. Sperm motility remained higher (P &lt; 0.05) than threshold limit till 6 h in dairy (50.95 ± 2.62%) and 2 h in beef semen (30.28 ± 6.95%). Dairy semen possessed more (P &lt; 0.05) nonapoptotic sperm without O2– (HE–/YoPRO–) till 6 h of incubation than beef semen. The increase in apoptotic sperm containing superoxide radical (HE+/YoPRO+) over time was more (P &lt; 0.05) in beef semen till 6 h of incubation. The rise in dead sperm containing H2O2 (H2DCFDA+/PI+) was recorded more in beef than in dairy semen until 6 h of incubation. Live sperm without apoptosis (YoPRO–/PI–) were higher until 24 h in dairy (49.36 ± 4.56%) compared with beef semen (24.89 ± 3.85%), whereas viable sperm with apoptosis (YoPRO+/PI–) were found similar in both types of semen over time. In conclusion, dairy frozen-thawed semen possessed more live sperm without reactive oxygen species (superoxide and hydrogen peroxide) until 6 h of incubation than did beef semen. The decrease in superoxide radical was more in dairy than in beef semen. Dead and apoptotic sperm increased more in beef frozen-thawed semen over time during incubation. This inference suggests performing the insemination late near ovulation with beef frozen-thawed semen because of less viable life than dairy semen.

A CIDR-Based Timed Embryo Transfer Protocol Increases the Pregnancy Rate of Lactating Repeat Breeder Dairy Cows

This study evaluated the pregnancy rates following either a controlled internal drug release (CIDR)-based timed artificial insemination (TAI) or an embryo transfer (TET) protocol compared with that following a single PGF(2alpha) injection and AI after estrus (AIE) in lactating repeat breeder dairy cows. Fifty-three lactating dairy cows diagnosed as repeat breeders were used in this study and were randomly assigned to the following three treatments. (1) Cows, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR device and 2 mg estradiol benzoate (EB; Day 0), a 25 mg PGF(2) (alpha) injection at the time of CIDR removal on Day 7 and a 1 mg EB injection on Day 8. The cows then received TAI 30 h (Day 9) after the second EB injection using dairy semen (TAI group, n=13). (2) Cows, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received the same hormonal treatments as in the TAI group. The cows then received TET on Day 16 using frozen-thawed blastocysts or morula embryos collected from Korean native cattle donors (TET group, n=13). (3) Cows, at the luteal phase, received a 25 mg injection of PGF(2alpha) and AIE using dairy semen (control group, n=27). The ovaries of the cows in the TET group were examined by transrectal ultrasonography to determine ovulation of the preovulatory follicles, and blood samples were collected for serum progesterone (P4) analysis. The pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the TET group (53.8%) than in the control (18.5%) or TAI (7.7%) groups (P<0.05). The ultrasonographic observations demonstrated that all the cows in the TET group ovulated the preovulatory follicles and concomitantly formed new corpora lutea. Accordingly, the mean serum P4 concentration remained constant between Day 0 and Day 7 of the luteal phase, decreased dramatically on Day 8 (P<0.01) and subsequently increased by Day 16 (P<0.01). These data suggest that the CIDR-based TET protocol can be used to effectively increase the pregnancy rate in lactating repeat breeder dairy cows.

젖소의 주요경제형질에 대한 국내생산 및 수입 정액의 능력비교

국내에서 사용한 젖소 정액을 네 가지(한국형 보증종모우 정액, 농협 수입 보증종모우 정액, 미국산 수입 정액, 카나다산 수입 정액)로 분류하여 표현형 능력 및 유전능력을 비교하였다. 유전능력의 경우 농촌진흥청 축산연구소에 수행하고 있는 국가단위 젖소유전능력평가 결과를 이용하였다. 유량, 유지량 및 유단백량의 표현형 능력의 경우 미국산 수입 정액이 가장 우수하였고, 한국형 보증종모우 정액은 미국산 수입 정액과 유의한 차이를 보였다. 1991년 이후 태어난 보증종모우의 경우 유지량은 네 종류의 정액 사이에 유의한 차이가 없었다. 유량, 유지량, 유단백량, 유단백율 유전능력의 경우 네 종류 사이에 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 유지율의 경우 한국형 보증종모우 정액이 가장 우수하였다. 선형심사 최종점수 및 유방종합지수의 경우 카나다산 수입정액이 가장 우수하였으며, 한국형 보증종모우 정액과 유의한 차이를 보였다. MFP 및 KTPI의 경우 네 종류 사이에 유의한 차이가 없었다. 1991년 이후에 태어난 보증종모우의 유량 및 유단백량의 경우 네 종류 사이에 유의한 차이가 없었으나, 유지량, 유지율 및 유단백율의 경우 한국형 보증종모우 정액이 가장 우수하였고, 나머지 정액과 유의한 차이를 보였다. 선형심사 최종점수의 경우 한국형 보증종모우 정액, 미국산 수입정액 및 카나다산 수입정액 사이에 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. 유방종합지수의 경우 카나다산 수입정액이 가장 우수하였고, 한국형 보증종모우 정액과 유의한 차이가 났다. MFP의 경우 한국형 보증종모우 정액이 가장 우수하였고, 나머지 정액과 유의한 차이를 보였다. KTPI의 경우 한국형 보증종모우 정액, 미국산 수입정액 및 카나다산 수입정액 사이에 통계적으로 유의한 차이가 없었다. The data used in the study were taken from the national dairy genetic evaluation of bulls from 1986 up to 2001. It was conducted to compare the phenotypic performance and genetic merits in terms of production traits, linear traits and selection indexes of four types of dairy semen (TypeⅠ:semen from Korean proven bull, Type Ⅱ:semen from proven bull imported by National Agricultural Cooperative Federation(NACF), Type Ⅲ:semen imported from USA, Type Ⅳ:semen imported from Canada) used in Korea. The result of national dairy genetic evaluation was used to compare genetic merits. Type Ⅲ was superior in the phenotypic performance of milk yield, milk fat and milk protein and was significantly different from Type Ⅰ. Types of semen were not significantly different in fat when semen from bull born after 1991 were compared. Likewise, types of semen were not significantly different in the genetic merit for milk yield, milk fat, milk protein and milk protein %. Moreso, for profit index (MFP) and Korean type production index (KTPI) it was not statistically different. However type Ⅰ was superior in milk fat % and was significantly different from other types. Type Ⅳ was superior in Final Score of conformation test (FS) and Udder Composite Index (UDC) and significantly different from Type Ⅰ. When semen from bull born after 1991 were compared, types of semen were not significantly different in milk yield and milk protein, although type I was superior in milk fat, milk fat %, milk protein % and MFP and was significantly different from others. Moreover type Ⅲ and type Ⅳ was superior in UDC and were significantly different from others.

Exploring the Role of Sexed Semen in Dairy Production Systems

Abstract The availability of sexed semen in dairy cattle has been eagerly anticipated for many years, and recent developments in fluorescence activated cell sorting have brought this technology to the brink of commercial application. Two limitations still exist, namely sorting speed (hence, availability and price) and in vivo conception rates. Presently, about 150 to 200 straws of X-bearing sperm can be sorted per machine per day, and this comprises less that 0.5% of the daily domestic dairy semen requirement. Furthermore, conception rates in field trials involving virgin heifers have typically ranged from 35 to 40% with sexed semen, as compared with 55 to 60% for unsexed semen, and this limits the willingness of producers to pay a premium price for the product. The focus of this paper is to discuss 3 potential breeding schemes that can lead to widespread usage of sexed semen today, in spite of its aforementioned limitations. The first strategy, earlier (than normal) breeding of virgin heifers with sexed semen, followed by the use of unsexed semen for repeat services, would provide 62 to 66% female offspring at first calving with no detrimental effects on average age at calving or dystocia. Semen cost per heifer calf would increase by $47 to 56, $123 to 137, or $199 to 217, depending on conception rate, for sexed semen priced at $50, $100, or $150 per unit, respectively. The second strategy, in vitro embryo production using known donors with dairy heifers as recipients, could provide extra heifer calves at an added cost of $81 to 118 or $212 to 286 for female embryos costing $50 or $100, respectively. The third strategy, in vitro embryo production with anonymous donors and beef recipients, could increase net calf value per recipient by $52 to 97 (single transfers) or $171 to 240 (double transfers) for embryos costing $25 each and by $11 to 59 (single transfers) or $95 to 161 (double transfers) for embryos that cost $50. Thus, strategies exist for near-term application of sexed semen within the routine management of commercial dairy farms. Early adopters of this technology will capture economic benefits associated with extra replacement heifers, as well as enhanced biosecurity via the ability to expand rapidly from within a closed herd.