Bull semen frozen for 49 years produces healthy calf at Caithness farm
A small straw of bull semen frozen in liquid nitrogen almost half a century ago has produced a healthy bull calf at a Caithness farm.
It followed a successful AI cattle breeding programme this year using a variety of semen available through the cattle breeding service run by local technician Willie Mackay.
Farmer Martin Jenkins and his daughter Rebecca (Becca), from the Ha, Bower, decided to have one of their Simmental cross cows inseminated with a straw of Romagnola semen by the bull Scottish Dritto, knowing it had been immersed in Willie Mackay’s Dewar flask – a specialised type of vacuum flask – since 1975.
Following the insemination, a healthy bull calf arrived just before Christmas.
The highly adaptable Romagnola originated in northern Italy. Mr Mackay pointed out that the breed was one of several exotic bulls imported by the then Scottish Milk Marketing Board in Paisley in the 1970s.
Ha, Bower, comprises 130 acres arable supporting 20 pedigree Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle and 50 commercial cross cows along with 450 Mule and Blackface ewes.
Mr Mackay, known to all as AI Willie, has just completed his 55th year of providing a cattle breeding service covering Caithness and north and east Sutherland.
He said: “I’m particularly delighted for Martin Jenkins and his daughter Becca who have achieved excellent results in their first AI programme, also using Aberdeen Angus, Simmental, Limousin and Blonde d’Aquitaine.
“The success with the Romagnola straw proves the value of AI. Once a fresh straw of bull semen is immersed in liquid nitrogen it can be stored indefinitely and remain fresh until it is thawed out.”
