Page 16 - Progressive Genetics News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

April 21, 2021, 6:00 am The use of fresh semen has grown in popularity over the last number of years amongst dairy farmers and artificial insemination (AI) service providers. In New Zealand, fresh semen is commonly used – even more so than frozen semen – due to its convenience and speed of use. The fresh semen programme, which is run by Progressive Genetics and Munster Bovine, has grown in popularity over the last few years in Ireland. This year’s fresh semen programme began on April 14, and is due to finish around June 2. ”Last year over 35,000 fresh straws were used, which was a 12%...

April 5, 2021, 2:00 pm It can be exciting news for breeders when they hear that AI straws of popular old pedigree sires come back onto the scene once again. This is the case for pedigree Simmental breeders, as two old sires that supplies were thought to be ran out, are once again available for purchase. Progressive Genetics is now distributing a limited supply of straws from Simmental sires Hillcrest Butcher (HBE) and Hillcrest Butcher A sire that is well-known in Simmental breeding circles, Hillcrest Butcher, originated from the Hillcrest herd owned by Paudge Mulhare. He is sired by Magh...

SHARING OPTIONS: More beef calves on the ground and less dairy bull calves should be the aim of sexed semen The future prospects for sexed semen use in Ireland got a boost recently with the news that Teagasc and AI companies are setting up a new sexing lab. While it won’t be ready for this spring, it should be ready for the 2022 breeding season. Last year was probably the first time that dairy farmers in Ireland used sexed semen in good numbers. Figures from the ICBF suggest that upwards of 30,000 to 40,000 inseminations of sexed straws were used last ...

March 16, 2021 12:08 pm Progressive Genetics is currently conducting a survey among farmers to gauge people’s views and experiences with milk pregnancy testing. A relatively new service for Irish farmers in recent years, milk pregnancy testing has seen a surge in popularity in the past year – with some 100,000 tests taken in Ireland last year. Speaking to AgriLand on the matter, Progressive Genetics milk recording manager Stephen Connolly said: “We’re doing a survey on the milk pregnancy testing. We just want to do this survey to see if there’s anything we can do to improve the se...

The cost increase is due to the Revenue Commissioners increasing the VAT rate at which milk recording is charged from 4.5% to 13.5%.