Precision Breeding using Artificial Insemination vs. the Bull

NFU制定了一个目标，即到2040年在英格兰和威尔士的整个农业中实现净零温室气体（GHG）排放。莫里森承诺到2030年成为第一家由英国“净零”碳农场直接供应的超市。人工授精（AI）传统上不用于肉牛繁殖，只有不到10%的英国肉牛采用这种做法。然而，它可以有很多好处，允许农民选择适合他们的牛群育种计划（例如母性与终末性状）的公牛，而无需购买和饲养多头公牛，提高遗传潜力和效率，同时减少温室气体（GHG）排放。可持续的育种改进可减少屠宰天数，减少浪费，提高资源效率，但由于对精液质量缺乏信心以及对精确管理的实施或理解，目前的采用受到限制。该项目将评估采用精确育种的实际机会，通过提高繁殖季节第一阶段的可持续繁殖成功率，在牛乳鱼群中实现变革性遗传进步。经过性别鉴定的精液和人工智能将联合收割机与精确管理相结合，报告成本效益、减少温室气体和关键性能指标（包括育种指数）方面的结果。

The NFU has set a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the whole of agriculture in England and Wales by 2040\. Morrisons have pledged to be the first supermarket to be directly supplied by 'net zero' carbon British farms by 2030\.Artificial Insemination (AI) is not traditionally used in beef cattle reproduction with less than 10% UK beef herds adopting the practice. However, it can have many benefits, allowing farmers to select sires that are suited to their herd's breeding programme (e.g. maternal vs. terminal traits) without the expense of buying and keeping multiple bulls improving genetic potential and efficiency, whilst decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Sustainable breeding improvements lead to decreased days to slaughter, reduced waste and increased resource efficiency however uptake is currently limited due to lack of confidence in semen quality and implementation or understanding of precision management.This project will assess practical opportunities to adopt precision breeding for transformative genetic progress in beef suckler herds by enhancing sustainable reproductive success in the first phase of the breeding season. Quality tested sexed semen and AI will combine with precision management, reporting results in terms of cost benefit, reduced GHG and key performance indicators including breeding indices.