SemenRate Canada/UK: Transforming Germplasm and Genetic Quality to Drive Livestock Productivity

Good fertility performance is the cornerstone of a profitable and sustainable livestock enterprise. In the international dairy and beef herd, optimum performance is achieved by maintaining a calving interval (CI) of 365 days. Every day CI increases \>365 days is estimated to directly cost the farmer ~GBP2.07/CAN$3.54/cow, or more for high yielding dairy cows. Fertility drives productivity and in turn the mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through reduced waste and optimising unproductive replacement youngstock inventories.

This project will research and develop a number of innovative new technologies and establish national level referral facilities for quality assurance and improvement of bovine germplasm, as an integrated bilateral approach. The outputs of the project will transform genetic progress, through adoption of precision technologies, diagnostics, advanced breeding and big data, leading to more sustainable livestock food production and export opportunities in both UK and Canada.