In herds where the number of dairy breed replacements required has reduced due to cows being more fertile and surviving longer in the herds or where expansion targets have been achieved, there is the oportunity to use both dairy and beef AI from the start of the breeding season.

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.