The Prairie Star
November 2, 2004

New semen sexing technology is on the horizon
by Bill brewster

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - New technology that is now being used by Trans Ova Genetics on an experimental basis to sex semen for Holstein and Jersey dairy cattle could soon be available for beef breeds according to a scientist with the well-known embryo transfer business.

Because this new technology has tremendous positive ramifications for the beef industry in future years the developments are being watched by both seedstock producers in Montana and other states.

The groundbreaking technology is now being used at Trans Ova Genetics only for in-vitro fertilization at first because of the expense of valuable semen straws.

Luis Ferre, a fertilization scientist, said the technology is going to be applied to beef animals once the procedures expand beyond the experimental stage.

Ferre said the technology is being used on a daily basis Monday through Thursday to produce Holstein and Jersey embryos at the headquarters laboratory where most of the in-vitro fertilization work is being conducted. Within the dairy industry, there is a demand for heifers, which make the technology very important.

"There are a lot of guys interested in Montana," Ferre said, "but we want to walk before we run at this point before we go fully commercial.
"Once we get more of the technology together then we will go to more commercial use and then we will start offering our services at all of our locations," he added.

He said scientists will soon start retrieval from live cows. At this point, scientists are using ovaries from slaughterhouses.

The new semen sexing technology is being applied because of an agreement reached between Trans Ova Genetics and XY, Inc., of Fort Collins, Colo., the developer of the semen sexing technology.

According to Daniel Faber, president of Trans Ova Genetics, the agreement gives the company the ability to provide customers with the sex of the animals they prefer.

Trans Ova Genetics has gained a world-wide reputation as one of the innovative leaders in embryo transplants. XY, Inc. has established a number of innovations in sex selection.

The scientists at XY produced "Call Me Madam," the world's first sex-selected foal in 1998, the world's the world's first sex-selected calf using frozen sexed sperm and artificial insemination in 1999 and the world's first sex-selected foals using sexed sperm and artificial insemination in 1999.

XY is the master licensee in control of all sperm sorting in non-human malls worldwide using technologies developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University and Cytomation, Inc., a company that develops advance flow cytometers that sort sperm. XY has merged those technologies.

According to Trans Ova scientists, due to limited sperm transport by the super ovulated donor, many sires may not produce adequate fertilization rates.

The IVF system was used first where limited numbers of valuable sperm can be leveraged over significant number of eggs.

At Trans Ova Genetics, the scientists continue to use fetal sexing and embryo biopsy - PCR sexing to assist customers with obtaining the sex ratio they desire until the new technology is refined, according to information in a recent press release.

In addition to the Sioux Center location, Trans Ova Genetics has satellite facilities Chillicothe, Mo., Belgrade, Mont., Crescent Okla., and Mendota, Ill.