UK strengthens global lead in sexed dairy semen uptake

The use of sexed dairy semen has now exceeded 86% across all breeds, giving AHDB levy payers greater opportunities to breed replacements from their highest-performing cows and accelerating genetic gain across the national dairy herd.

The latest survey of breeding companies, covering April 2025 to March 2026, shows continued growth in the use of sexed semen. Holsteins continue to lead the way, with 91% of semen used now sex sorted.

This milestone further strengthens the UK’s position as the global leader in the use of sexed dairy semen and highlights the confidence UK dairy farmers have in sexed semen technology. 

The ongoing increase in the use of sexed dairy semen allows farmers to breed replacements from their highest-performing cows, helping to accelerate genetic gain across the national dairy herd.

When combined with genomic evaluations and tools, such as the AHDB Herd Genetic Report, farmers can make more informed breeding decisions and identify the animals most likely to deliver future profitability and efficiency gains.

Our data also shows a further increase in the use of beef semen in dairy herds, which now stands at 53.5% of all semen used.

Aberdeen Angus (42%) and British Blue (41%) remain the most popular beef breeds used by dairy farmers, reflecting the importance of dairy-beef systems within the wider livestock sector.

The increased use of sexed semen gives farmers greater flexibility to use beef semen on cows that are less suitable for breeding replacements, supporting the supply of high-quality dairy-beef calves.

This trend continues to have a positive impact across the beef supply chain, with a growing number of dairy-origin beef animals entering the market.

These animals benefit from improvements in both dairy and beef genetics, helping to drive efficiency, productivity and sustainability throughout the sector.

Marco Winters, AHDB Head of Animal Genetics, said:

“The latest figures show UK dairy farmers continue to embrace breeding technologies that help improve herd performance and efficiency.

“The increase in sexed semen usage to over 86% demonstrates the confidence farmers have in these tools and the value they can deliver through more targeted breeding decisions.

“At the same time, the continued growth in beef semen use is creating opportunities across both the dairy and beef sectors. When combined with genomic information, it enables farmers to accelerate genetic progress, improve calf quality and maximise the value of every breeding decision.”