Publication Date

Spring 2019

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Dr. Fred Degraves (Director), Dr. Hunter Galloway, and Dr. Elmer Gray

Degree Program

Department of Agriculture

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of female selected sex-sorted semen and to determine the association of variables on the success of Western Kentucky University’s Dairy Farm. Official breeding and calving records (n=144) were used to determine the relation of lactation number, breeding season, breeding number, breeding year and semen type on pregnancy results, sex of offspring, and the mortality of the offspring. Previous research has shown pregnancy results can be influenced by lactation number, breeding season, number of breedings and semen type. Results from this study show that pregnancy results were not associated with lactation number (P=0.21), breeding year (P=0.22), breeding number (P=0.52) or semen type (P=0.99). Breeding season was associated with pregnancy results (P=0.04). Lactation number (P=0.40), breeding season (P=0.20) or breeding number (P=0.12) did not influence the sex of the offspring. The year of breeding and semen type (conventional or sexed) had a significant or close to significant effect on the sex of the offspring (P=0.01) and (P=0.06). The mortality of offspring was not associated with lactation number (P=0.46), breeding season (P=0.94), breeding year (P=0.76), breeding number (P=0.40) or semen type (P=0.49).

Disciplines

Agriculture | Animal Sciences | Biology

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