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Sexed semen is hot in cattle breeding

Meet X-Vik and Y-Vik — your solution in sexed semen. An efficient way to ensure the genetic progress of your herd. A sustainable investment in your cattle farm for generations to come.

Why use sexed semen?

Are you looking for ways to intensify your breeding? To get more heifer calves and less unwanted bull calves? Would you like a tool that helps you ensure the best genetic progress and biggest return on investment?

Sexed semen is a growing commodity around the world. If you've already used this innovative technology, you have likely experienced the benefits:

  • A 90% chance of a heifer calf from your best females (X-Vik) and a bull calf for beef (Y-Vik)
  • Easy calvings with heifer calves
  • Fewer unwanted bull calves — easier compliance with rules about animal welfare
  • An effective tool for herd management
holstein calves sexed semen

How to get the best results with sexed semen

Do you know which of your cows and heifers are the best ones — genetically? And how do you select the best bulls to match your breeding goals?

The best way to get optimal use of X-Vik and Y-Vik is to combine the technology with other genetic herd improvement solutions.

  • Identify your best females to breed the next generation
    We recommend using genomic test of females rather than relying on pedigree.
    Dams selected on pedigree index give you a lower reliability.
    Dams selected using genomic test give you a higher reliability based on big data.
  • Categorise your female animals into breeding strategies
    Calculate the benefits of different strategies in advance. Choose the breeding strategy with the highest return on investment. Save costs by raising the right number of replacement heifers.
  • Select the high genetic merit bulls to match the heifer or cow's strengths and weaknesses
    Use VikMate - a herd improvement programme to optimise the genetic level of your herd. VikMate helps you manage inbreeding, keep track of your strategy and eliminate errors.
  • Use X-Vik for your best females
    The average conception rate for X-Vik is slightly lower than for conventional semen. However, with good herd management some farmers experience a conception rate of up to 70% for X-Vik.

  • Use conventional semen for your other females or Y-Vik sexed semen for beef.

  • Achieve faster genetic improvement with a healthier, more productive and profitable herd.

red dairy cow on pasture
Get a free guide to plan your sexed semen strategy Download
sexed semen brochure

What's special about X-Vik and Y-Vik?

With X-Vik and Y-Vik sexed semen, you tap into decades of scientific research and data collection. Our Nordic data system is the most complete total merit index in the world. You don't just get a semen straw - you get a healthy, sustainable herd.

VikingGenetics was amongst the first in the world to offer the sexed semen technology for cattle breeding. Today, we are one of a few bovine genetics providers to offer high-quality sexed semen for three major cattle breeds:

The production of X-Vik and Y-Vik sexed semen happens at our bull station in Denmark. The lab is next door to the barn. Our staff performs quality control at every step of the process — from production to sorting, processing, shipment, insemination and the six-week in calf check. As a measure of semen quality, we track semen viability, motility and progressive motility and their correlation with field fertility.

Breeding for health and performance has always been an integral part of the VikingGenetics breeding strategy.

Learn more about our breeding value system based on Nordic breeding values.

Bull search
jersey calves in barn
We are in constant communication with the barn staff about the production. It's important to us that the bulls are healthy and thriving. We follow the performance closely and adjust whenever needed. Only the best semen is good enough.

Peter Larson,
Senior Breeding Manager for VikingJersey, VikingGenetics

Estimate the benefits of using sexed semen Make calculation

Do you have more questions?
Send us a message and we will get back to you.