Our SGL bulls are selectively bred to shorten gestation length. So you can shorten your calving period, give your late-calving cows more chance of getting back in-calf and increase your days in milk. It all adds up to an improved bottom line.
Benefits of SGL semen
More compact calving
SGL semen can get calves on the ground earlier than normal gestation length bulls. This is an effective way to compact your calving period and bring your late-calving cows forward.
More cows in-calf
Cows that calve early in a herd’s calving period have more time to recover and cycle before mating season. This increases their chances of getting back in calf to artificial insemination (AI) and reduces empty rates.
A longer recovery time can also:
- reduce interventions
- improve AI conception rates
- lower empty rates
- improve body condition.
More days in milk
SGL can help shorten your herd’s calving spread, giving you more days in milk and in-turn boosting your farm’s income.
Understanding gestation length
All our sires have a gestation length breeding value (BV).
It’s expressed in days. A negative number means a shorter-than-average gestation length.
Bulls pass on half their gestation length BV to their offspring. For example, if a bull’s BV is -20 his calves are likely to be born 10 days early.
SGL products
SGL Hereford
LIC and leading NZ Hereford breeders, Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords, have developed easy-calving and easy-to-identify Hereford sires can reduce gestation length. This means Australian farmers have more valuable calves to offer the beef industry and you save valuable time identifying calves.
SGL + BW
Our SGL + Breeding Worth (BW) bulls are a win-win. They give you shorter gestation as well as sound genetic merit for heifer calf replacements. These sires have been rigorously tested to ensure their traits are passed on to their offspring, to improve the genetic value of your herd.