FAQs

1. Increase the number of females to over 90%

• Increase in milk production

2. Faster genetic progress by producing more females from superior bulls

3. Increased biosecurity; grow or replace from within, no need to purchase cows from other sources

4. Reduction of dystocia especially in the first calving due to the smaller size of female calves

• Reducing losses in production, fertility, cow and calf mortality, increased culling and veterinary and management costs
• Improved animal welfare and milk production

5. Reduce male calves to less than 10%

6. Better utilization of feed and fodder resources

7. Production of gender selected embryos

As per standards the number of sperms per straw must be minimum 2.1 million.

• The average number of sperms per straw of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen produced in India is 2.2 million. Moreover, the Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen contains mostly live sperms only as the dead sperms and debris are removed prior to and during sorting which eliminates the damaging effects of dead cells on live sperms. This improves the sperm viability and motility and enhances conception rate significantly.

No, the standard operating protocols for semen handling and artificial insemination (AI Protocol) are the same, but it must be followed strictly for every insemination

Sex sorting of sperms is done based on the difference in size of the DNA content of X chromosome bearing sperms (female) and Y chromosome bearing sperms (male). Ultraplus® sperm sorting technology identifies the difference between X and Y, separate and remove the unwanted sperms without killing. The difference in size of the DNA content of X chromosome bearing sperms is about 3.8% larger in bovines.

It is recommended to use Sex Sorted Semen on animals that are healthy and do not have any reproductive problems. It can be used for cows and heifers of cattle and buffaloes. The conception rate of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen is proven to be similar to or more than that of conventional semen under similar conditions. In general, it is advised to use Sex Sorted Semen from bulls of superior genetics.

Ultraplus® sperm sorting technology separates female (X) and male (Y) chromosome bearing sperms and removes the Y without killing. The technology also remove the dead and dying sperms from the raw ejaculate prior to the sorting process. Absence of dead sperms and debris eliminate the toxic effects of dead sperms on live sperms, increases the sperm viability, progressive motility and improve the conception rate significantly. Ultraplus® also provide gender purity of more than 90% which ensure the gender ratio of calves born to be more than 90% females. The conception rate of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen is proven to be similar to or more than that of conventional semen and the gender ratio of calves born is over 90% in the field.

The average conception rates in cattle and buffalo is proven to be similar or more than that of conventional semen under similar conditions. The conception rate in India has been recorded to be 40 to 46% in different breeds of cattle and buffaloes. Please find more in the published articles

Average female purity minimum 90%

• Average female purity of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 93% which ensures gender ratio of calves born to be similar in the field

Post thaw progressive motility minimum at 0hr is 50% and 3hr is 30%

• Average post thaw progressive motility of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 61% at 0hr and 54% at 3hrs post thaw which ensures high conception rate

Acrosome Integrity at 3hrs post thaw minimum 50%

• Average acrosome integrity of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 76% which ensure high conception rate

Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen from all breeds of cattle including indigenous, exotic, cross breeds and buffaloes such as Murrah, Jaffrabadi, Mehsana and Pandharpuri are available from our partners such as BAIF, ULDB, TNLDA & MPLPDC

Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen needs to be thawed using temperature regulated thawing units and utilizing a thermometer to monitor temperature. Water temperature should be between 95°F and 98°F (35°C and 37°C, respectively). The thawing process should be at least 60 seconds (1 min.) for cattle, 120 seconds (2 min.) for buffalos and not more than 15 minutes. (AI Protocol)

Following are the international quality control (QC) parameters and followed by ST:

• Female gender purity over 90%. (Average female purity of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 93% which ensures gender ratio calves born to be similar in the field)
• Post thaw progressive motility at 0hr is over 50% and 3hr is over 30%. (Average post thaw progressive motility of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 61% at 0hr and 54% at 3hrs post thaw which ensures high conception rate)
• Acrosome Integrity at 3hrs post thaw is over 50%. (Average intact acrosomes of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 76% at 3hrs post thaw which ensure high conception rate)
• Bacterial count: less than 100 cfu (The average bacterial count in India is zero)

Progressive motility is the percentage of progressively motile sperms, and it represents the % of progressively motile sperms in the straw. 0hr post thaw progressive motility is measured just after thawing the straw and the 3hrs post thaw progressive motility is measured after 3hrs incubation at 35 to 36 Degree Celsius. 3hr post thaw incubation progressive motility is very important because it shows the survivability of sperms in the uterus of the cows after AI prior to fertilization. Sperms with high 3hr post thaw progressive motility will have higher chances making the cow or heifer pregnant.

• The average post thaw progressive motility of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is averaging 61% at 0hr and 54% at 3hrs post thaw which is 11% and 24% higher than the standard requirement of 50% and 30% respectively

Percentage of Acrosome Integrity is the measure of intact acrosomes, which is measured as a percentage of the total number of sperms in the straw. Intact acrosomes are necessary for the sperms to penetrate the ovum and therefore, higher percentage of intact acrosome will help improving conception rate.

• Average acrosome integrity of Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen in India is 76% at 3hrs post thaw whereas the standard requirement is only 50% at 0hrs

Ultraplus® sperm sorting technology is able to produce Sex Sorted Semen selected for Female or Male because the technology is only separating the female and male sperms without killing the unwanted. Therefore, it is possible to produce male or female Sex Sorted Semen from the same ejaculate simultaneously or separately

The success rate of Artificial Insemination (AI) can be improved by the following:

• Skills of the inseminator
• Compliance and consistence of semen handling and AI protocols
• Health and condition of the animal
• Avoiding using of Sex Sorted Semen on animals that has history of repeat breeding and health issues
• Proper record keeping and follow up

In general, if a cow or heifer can be pregnant from conventional semen, she can also get pregnant from Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen.

It is recommended to inseminate (AI) after 18 hours from the first signs of standing heat. Inseminate animals that show clear signs of good heat and do not have any reproductive problem. (AI Protocol)

Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen reduces the number of male calves born to be less than 10%. This can reduce the number of male calves born.

Yes, Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen can be used on cows of any lactations if she is healthy and do not have any reproductive problems. In other words, if an animal can become pregnant from conventional semen, she can also become pregnant from Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen under similar conditions

Ultraplus® Sex Sorted Semen is available in most of the states in India through the distributors of BAIF, ULDB, TNLDA and MPLPDC. The details can be found at Distributor Page. Where there are no distributors, please contact the above organizations directly BAIF / ULDB / MPLPDC 

As in case of conventional semen, Sex Sorted Semen also do not have any expiry period as long as it is stored safely in sufficient quantity of liquid nitrogen (LN2).