Cattle producers have long desired the ability to control the gender or their calf crop. For commercial cattlemen, steers are simply more valuable than heifers and more steers means more potential revenue. Sex-sorted semen has been available for use in artificial insemination (AI) for about 10 years but the conception rate to AI was greatly reduced reducing the profit potential for most cattle producers. Recent developments have resulted in increased conception rate to AI of sex-sorted semen opening a window for potential increased profits.

Five farms were selected to examine the long-term impact of using gender-sorted semen on the productivity and profitability of commercial cattle production. Using advanced AI techniques, we have been able to alter gender ratio and improve production efficiency and profitability. Conception rate to AI using gender-sorted semen averaged 59%. We were able to shift sex ratio to averaged slightly over 75% steers. Overall pregnancy rates exceeded 90% on both farms. Since steers are more valuable ($150-200), we were able to improve revenue with the same inputs on all farms.