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Milk production in Australia is big business — generating more than $4.5 million at the farmgate and contributing significantly to our export earnings.

The dairy industry’s success is due in part to the use of artificial insemination (AI), which enables genetic traits, such as improved milk production, to be introduced into a herd.

It involves freezing bull semen in a process known as ‘cryopreservation’ and then using it when required. But it’s a technique that is not without problems. While around 65 per cent of Australian dairy cows are bred using frozen semen, not all cows fall pregnant.

Nancy D’Cruz, from the Monash Institute of Medical Research, together with Genetics Australia, is using her award to investigate whether existing cryopreservation techniques are causing embryo loss and therefore reducing pregnancy rates among cows.

“It is well know that cryopreservation can lead to DNA damage and decreased sperm motility,” Nancy said.

“Furthermore, mice produced from frozen sperm have displayed abnormal growth rates, gene expression and behavioural defects.

“Examining whether freezing bull semen for use in AI damages its structure will allow us to determine whether we need to use other methods in cryopreservation.

“There are about 10,000 dairy farms in Australia and if we can determine how to improve the semen cryopreservation technique, we can increase pregnancy rates in huge numbers and reduce costs for farmers.

“If we could improve pregnancy rates, even by as little as 5 per cent, it would result in at least $80 million profit to Australian dairy farmers!”