Sperm. K.I. Samen is one of the Netherlands’ three testing companies in the field of beef cattle insemination. By testing is meant that the company is always looking for the best product and market combinations based on qualities of the offspring of the sperm-producing bulls. The qualities examined relate to milk production as well as to life span, sensitivity and serving efficiency.The price of sperm is dictated by proven quality over the years. Prices vary between 6 and 20 euros per unit. The farmer chooses the breeding programme that suits him. Thijmen is a bull of the Meuse-Rhine-IJssel breed. MRI is often described as a dual-purpose breed as it produces both milk and beef. Thijmen is no longer a sperm donor but instead acts as a ‘partner’ for a bull that fails to mount the artificial cow on its own initiative