Comparative Field Evaluation of Sexed and Conventional Semen in Holstein-Friesian Cows: Insights into Semen Quality, Fertility Performance, and Calf Sex Ratio Across Diverse Environments
Putri Utami1, Aulia Puspita Anugra Yekti1, Anggita Dian Pramudhita1, Habib Asshidiq Syah1, Tri Agus Siswoyo2, Nurul Isnaini1 and Trinil Susilawati1*

1Department of Animal Reproduction and Breeding, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 65145, Indonesia
2Graduate Program of Biotechnology, the Center of Excellence on Crop Industrial Biotechnology (PUI-PT BioTIn), Universitas Jember, Jember 68121, Indonesia.
*tsusilawati[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

The use of sexed semen in dairy cattle breeding has been widely promoted to accelerate herd replacement by increasing the proportion of female calves, yet its effects on semen quality, fertility outcomes, and sex ratios under diverse environmental conditions remain insufficiently understood. This study evaluated semen quality, reproductive performance, and calf sex ratios of Holstein-Friesian cows inseminated with sexed and conventional semen across three dairy farms with different environmental conditions, involving 300 cows in total. Semen was analyzed for motility, viability, sperm concentration, abnormalities, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation, while fertility was assessed through non-return rate, conception rate, calving rate, and calf sex ratio. Statistical analyses were conducted using independent t-tests for semen parameters and Chi-square/Fishers Exact Test for reproductive outcomes. The results showed that sexed semen maintained comparable motility to conventional semen but exhibited significantly lower viability, sperm concentration, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity (p < 0.05), whereas abnormalities, total motile sperm, and DNA fragmentation did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Field fertility performance did not show significant differences between treatments at any location (p > 0.05), although Ngantang presented the highest trend, with conception and calving rates of up to 44%. In conclusion, sexed semen provides reproductive performance comparable to conventional semen under field conditions, despite certain reductions in quality attributes, supporting its application as a practical strategy to increase female calf production, with further long-term and multi-location studies needed to optimize outcomes under tropical dairy systems.

Keywords: conception rate, Holstein-Friesian, semen quality, sexed semen, sex ratio

Topic: Animal reproduction and breeding