[:id]The development of biotechnology in the field of livestock has provided tangible benefits to livestock farmers in Indonesia, such as artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET). With artificial insemination, farmers can determine the type of cattle they want to develop, such as Simmental, Limousin, Charolais, Frisian Holstein (FH), Ongole, Brahman, or Peranakan Ongole. The benefits of AI include improving cattle quality through genetic improvement. Through AI, local cattle can produce superior offspring. Additionally, AI enhances birth rates rapidly and consistently, reduces costs and time by eliminating the need to raise bulls, and prevents inbreeding in female cattle.

 

The development of AI with sexed semen can be useful for obtaining calves of the desired gender. Gender is determined by the presence of X and Y chromosomes in male spermatozoa (Garner and Hafez 1993). Spermatozoa with X chromosomes fertilize eggs to produce female embryos, while spermatozoa with Y chromosomes produce male embryos (Susilawati et al. 1999). X and Y spermatozoa differ in size, shape, weight, density, motility, charge, and biochemical content on their surfaces (Hafez 1993), allowing X and Y sperm to be separated.

The significant potential of small-scale livestock farming as a livestock resource should continue to be optimized for productivity. By applying artificial insemination with sexed semen, efficiency in livestock operations can be increased. Using sexed Y sperm in AI to increase the percentage of male calf births is particularly suitable for beef cattle breeding to meet the demand for fattening cattle. In dairy cattle farming, AI with sexed X sperm is performed to increase the percentage of female calf births for potential milk-producing dams.

In addition to innovating with sexed frozen semen, the Singosari Artificial Insemination Center (BBIB) also produces frozen semen for favored animals like fish, chickens, and horses. Furthermore, in collaboration with relevant parties, we produce frozen semen for conservation animals such as Galekan Cattle, Gambrong Goats, Sapudi Sheep, and Banteng. We also work with wild animals in safari parks. (DRw)

 

 

REFERENCES

 Garner DL, Seidel GE Jr. 2000. Sexing bull sperm. In: Chenoweth PJ (ed). Topics in Bull Fertility. International Veterinary Information Services IVISO. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

Gunawan M, Kaiin EM, Said S, Tappa B. 2013a. Successful Pregnancy from Artificial Insemination Using Sexed Sperm in Dairy Cattle Farms in Bogor and Tasikmalaya. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Livestock Technology, Bogor.

Hafez ESE. 1993. Reproduction in Farm Animals. 6th ed. Lea Febiger. Philadelphia.

Kaiin EM, Gunawan M, Afiati F, Said S, Tappa B. 2012. Production of frozen sexed sperm separated with BSA column method with standardization at an artificial insemination center. Proceedings of the International Conference on Biotechnology, Research Center for Biotechnology-LIPI, Cibinong Bogor.

Kaiin EM, Tappa B, Said S, Afiati F, Gunawan M, Yanthi ND. 2003. Application of Biotechnology for Producing Sexed Cattle Offspring. [Research Technical Report]. Research Center for Biotechnology-LIPI, Cibinong, Bogor.

Situmorang P, Sianturi RG, Kusumaningrum DA, Maidaswar R. 2014. Birth of female dairy calves from artificial insemination using sex-sorted sperm separated with egg albumin column. JITV 18 (3): 185-191.[:]