Sexed semen technology in cattle: A revolutionary technique in Indian dairy industry

Abstract

Desired sex either female or male which is produce from semen having X or Y bearing sperm is known as sexed semen. Sexed semen increase the genetic progress in a herd by increases the number of superior heifers and good male germplasm from elite bulls which is used for future breeding programme. Various methods are developed based on density gradient centrifugation or swim-up, sex specific antibodies, free flow electrophoresis and flow cytometry that efficiently separate bovine semen into fractions containing higher concentrations of X or Y chromosome bearing sperm. Flow cytometry is the only proven method for semen sexing to be commercially viable more than 90% accuracy to produce calves of desirable sex. Other methods for sex sorting of sperm (Albumin Gradient/ Percoll gradient/ Gradient swim down, Centrifugal counter current distribution, Free flow electrophoresis, Identification of H-Y antigen, Genetic approaches etc.) have also emerged though these techniques further needs fine tuning for commercial viability. This paper aimed to review the sexed semen methodology, utility of sex sorted semen, benefits and limitation of sex sorted semen.