The NHIA Semen Survey for the 2024 calendar year reveals significant shifts in the dairy and beef breeding landscape. While dairy semen sales have declined, there has been a marked rise in dairy-beef semen use, reflecting evolving farmer strategies aimed at maximising profitability and herd efficiency.
At the Herd’25 conference last week, an expert panel that included host Jim Bruce with Glen Barrett, Darren Fletcher and Bruce Ronalds, noted that dairy producers are strategically breeding lower-ranking cows to beef, capitalising on market demand and cost benefits. This shift is less about a drop in demand and more about refined breeding strategies—leveraging a mix of sexed, conventional, and beef semen for optimal results.
The report also highlights ongoing challenges, including declining beef-on-beef semen sales due to weaker cattle prices and tighter farm margins, as well as a long-term decline in dairy semen exports. However, emerging opportunities in Asia and evolving genetic selection preferences, particularly among younger breeders, point to potential areas of growth.
As Australian farmers and the herd improvement industry navigate economic pressures and shifting market dynamics, the NHIA Semen Survey underscores the importance of smart, forward-thinking breeding strategies.
Data for the semen survey was provided by the following NHIA members:
ABS Australia | Agri-Gene | Alta Genetics | Genetics Australia - Total Livestock Genetics | LIC | Rocky Repro | Semex
ST Genetics Australia | Viking Genetics | World Wide Sires
To explore the full report and gain deeper insights into the latest trends, Click the link