Canadian Embryo Transfer Association Association Canadienne de Transfert d Embryons. SURVEY SUMMARY: Use of Sexed Semen in Embryo Transfer in Canada

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1 Canadian Embryo Transfer Association Association Canadienne de Transfert d Embryons SURVEY SUMMARY: Use of Sexed Semen in Embryo Transfer in Canada Summary by Dr. Chris Urquhart September 2016

2 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 2 TOTAL OF 20 RESPONDENTS: 3 Haven t used sexed semen in last 3 years 2 Beef practices small amount of use 4 Dairy - small amount of use are discouraged because of poor results 7 Dairy - small number of flushes, decent results 4 Dairy - increasing usage with good data sets Beef Herds a) Small amount of use: sexed nonsexed transferrable freezable b) Equal results sexed vs nonsexed

3 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 3 7 Respondents with small data sets (as reported) c) 23 flushes reported (% viable reported) heifers 75% viable sexed 69% nonsexed 1 st /2 nd 56% viable sexed 74% nonsexed cows 38% viable sexed 79% nonsexed d) 21 flushes sexed semen heifers 6.7 viable/flush (14) 1 st /2 nd 7.3 viable/flush (3) cows 4.8 viable/flush (4) e) 80% of flushes sexed. Results equal across all ages f) 10 flushes sexed semen ave 6.4 viable/flush g) 10 flushes sexed semen heifers 4.0 viable/flush (2) cows 5.2 viable/flush (8) h) Occasional use estimated 4 viable/flush vs 6/flush nonsexed i) 10% of flushes using sexed semen - estimated half the yield vs conventional flush Comments: Small data sets Generally good results range from equal results to at least 60% of conventional flush (one result estimated half) Good results in heifers, decreased in older cows Dairy clients would be happy with these results - increased number of heifer calves - less recipients used

4 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 4 Respondents with large data sets j) Divided results into before and after June 2013 (215 sexed flushes prior, 50 since) sexed heifers prior recent 6.7 (22 flushes) st /2 nd prior recent 6.5 (8) 5.1 cows prior recent 1.7 (21) 5.3 less than 5% of donors with sexed nonsexed k) Results far better over last 1-2 years submitted data for 2015 sexed fertility nonsexed fertility Heifers 7.4 (30) 69% 6.0 (101) 62% 1 st 8.8 (20) 57% 8.1 (160) 63% 2 nd 6.8 (22) 52% 8.4 (170) 62% Cows 7.2 (80) 41% 8.0 (633) 56% l) Gone from 5% of flushes in 2013 to 13% of flushes in 2015 ( data) sexed fertility nonsexed fertility Heifers 5.1 (34) 54% 7.9 (354) 65% 1 st /2 nd 7.9 (27) 50% 9.7 (403) 64% Cows 4.9 (31) 30% 9.0 (597) 56% m) Increased from 6% of flushes in 2014 to 30% of flushes in 2016 (2014/15 data) sexed fertility nonsexed fertility Heifers 7.2 (118) 60% 6.5 (207) 67% 1st/2 nd 6.1 (91) 50% 7.6 (329) 71% Cows 3.7 (41) 33% 6.7 (231) 56%

5 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 5 Summary of four data sets j) Equivalent (better) results in heifers, young cows; poor results in cows k) Equivalent (better) results in heifers, 1 st lactation; 80-90% in rest l) 2/3 of embryos in heifers, 80% in 1 st /2 nd, >50% cows m) Equivalent (better) results in heifers, good in 1 st /2 nd, >50% in cows Summary in cows sexed nonsexed % of nonsexed j) 1.7 (20) % k) 7.2 (80) % l) 4.9 (31) % m) 3.7 (41) % from Sexing Technologies Over last ten years considerable change has happened in the technology of sorting sperm. Changes in equipment - fluid dynamics - optics - electronics and logistics Four new versions of equipment in last 5 years Changes in biology of sorting - interaction of sperm with equipment - media - processing time and logistics New product is called Sexed ULTRA (all AI companies presently with this technology) has 2 million sperm/straw; say fertility is 90-93% of conventional semen Also have Sexed ULTRA Plus has 4 million sperm/straw; say fertility is same as conventional semen (97-100%)

6 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 6 Suggested AI protocols - Beef Practices Both respondents use semen with 5 million sperm/straw a) 2 straws 12 hours post heat (later than conventional semen) and 2 more similar breedings at 3 hour intervals b) 2 straws per breeding at 18 and 28 hours a) Performed trial with sexed semen and deep breeding (90 flushes each) - control (sexed conventional breeding) averaged 5.1 embryos/flush - deep breeding with sexed semen averaged 4.8 embryos/flush b) Semen is deposited as deep as possible 1 straw in each uterine horn Suggested AI protocols - Dairy Very variable: 2-6 straws used overall, 2-4 breedings, start breeding 8 18 hours post estrus detection Examples: the 4 respondents with large data sets j) AI at hours, 2 straws each time k) AI at 12 hours, then 8-10 hours later, 2 straws each breeding, one in each horn l) AI at 12 hours, then 2 more at 12 hour intervals, 5 straws used m) AI 6-8 hours after onset of estrus, then 8-12 hours later, optional 3rd breeding 8-12 hours later, 1 straw each time. >3 straws is a waste

7 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 7 AI Companies Sexing Technologies suggest AI at hours, then 2 more breedings at 8 hour intervals. They use Sexed ULTRA Plus with 4 million sperm/straw. They report very good results flushing hundreds of donors they say they will present this at the upcoming IETS Select Sires sell only Sexed ULTRA Plus with 2 million sperm/straw. They report good success with the use in ET and say they have found no difference between the 2 and 4 million/straw Semex sells only Sexed ULTRA Plus with 2 million sperm/straw. They don t recommend for ET because of the increased variation compared to conventional ET Use of GnRH/LH Respondents: 2 use GnRH at 1st AI, LH 6-12 hours later 4 use LH hours before 1st AI 7 use GnRH 12 hours before 1st AI 2 use nothing (respondents k and m both among those with large data sets k said they have done trial found no difference) Targeting use of Sexed Semen Comments: Most common comment clients decide Use in heifers and young cows Use in cows with previous history of good ET Don t use with poor quality heat Discourage use in older cows

8 CETA/ACTE Sexed Semen Survey Summary 8 Other Comments Presently billing by embryo number. Using sexed semen I reduce my income Cuts into embryo sexing business Embryos need to be worth a lot more to warrant cost, labour and reduced results For dairy clients, if we achieve at least 50% fertility compared to conventional then client is happy 20-30% saving in direct costs to farmer per heifer calf using sexed semen (higher semen cost, lower veterinary fees) (based on CETA/ACTE survey of ET fees, 2011) Plus saving on cost of recipients More value to client from use of sexed semen in ET However, less income to ET practitioner -lower costs per calf may make ET more attractive to farmers may increase volume of ET performed -increased value to client gives room to increase fees if using sexed semen -makes regular ET more attractive vs IVF Conclusion Sexed semen working very well in heifers, 1 st and 2 nd lactation Use in cows is variable Most practitioners averaging >50% embryos per flush in cows compared to conventional; some considerably higher Perhaps we need to target it to the most fertile older cows