CONTACT: Dawn Navis
(608) 846-6396

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ABS SEMEN STRAWS REMAIN EQUALLY EFFECTIVE REGARDLESS OF SIZE

DEFOREST, WISCONSIN -March 19, 2003 – A recent on-farm study has concluded there is no difference in fertility of semen frozen in ABS ¼ or ½ ml straws. Both have outstanding results.

“Getting cows pregnant is a high priority on every dairy,” states Dr. Marvin Pace, ABS Senior Scientist. “Recent concerns of reduced fertility rates in cows on today’s dairies due to increasing herd sizes and changes in management conditions led ABS to decide to conduct an on-farm study.”

To ensure the continued effectiveness of ABS semen frozen in the ¼ and ½ ml straws and used on today’s dairies ABS conducted an extensive study including over 6600 inseminations, performed by seven different inseminators, in eight herds. Data from the study was analyzed to answer the following question. Was there any difference in the conception rates of the cattle inseminated with semen frozen in either the ¼ or ½ ml straws? The results clearly showed that there was no difference in the fertility of cows inseminated with semen from either package.

ABS has been packaging semen in both the ¼ and ½ ml straws for over 30 years. During that time continuous research has developed freezing procedures that have enhanced semen quality in both ¼ and ½ ml straws. ABS has developed a computerized wind tunnel freezing process. This unique freezing process allows for consistent, high quality freezing results, regardless of the straw size. In addition, ABS straws have always been packaged to contain the same number of sperm cells in both the ¼ and ½ ml straws.

“The wind tunnel freezer has given ABS the ability to produce the highest quality semen for our customers no matter what package is used,” emphasized Dr. Pace. “Other freezing techniques may not give the uniformity of freeze found with the wind tunnel freezing method. The larger the diameter of a straw the more difficult it is to obtain a uniform freeze. Variability in freezing can cause a decrease in fertility.”

The result of this study should continue to assure ABS customers that even though management practices are rapidly changing ABS semen packaged in either the ¼ or ½ ml straw will have the same results.

Headquartered in DeForest, Wisconsin, ABS Global is the world-leading provider of bovine genetics, reproduction services, technologies and uddercare products. Marketing in more than 70 countries around the globe, ABS has been at the forefront of animal genetics and technology since its founding in 1941. ABS Global is part of Genus Breeding, a division of Genus plc.

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To receive the contents of this release electronically, please contact Alice Langer at alanger@absglobal.com, or (608) 846-6203.

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