Licensed in the states of:Embryo Transfer
Embryo Transfer for Cows
Embryo transfer is the process of taking a fertilized egg or eggs from one female (the donor) and placing them into the reproductive tract of another female (the recipient). The first embryo transfer was in 1890 and now over 500,000 cattle embryos are transferred each year. Unlike cloning which produces a replicate of the same animal, an animal resulted from embryo transfer is a combination of the male and female traits.
Embryo transfer is a great way to make genetic improvements to a herd without waiting generations. The average number of embryos from one cow is six, but can be much higher or none. It is also a way you can get more than one calf from a superior female in one year. Embryos can be sold, bought, and shipped over state and country lines with very little restrictions; where as live animals may need to be quarantined for months.
- The first step for embryo transfer is synchronization of both the donor and the recipient females (usually ten head to every cow). We synchronize the donor females so we can manipulate their cycle with our schedule. The recipients are also synchronized so we can make sure embryo will be put into a female that is very similar in cycle to the donor.
- The donor female is given multiple injections that will cause her to superovulate, or release more than one ovum (egg) at one time. The donor is artificially inseminated (AI) with semen from the bull. This will allow all the eggs to be fertilized around the same time.
- The next step is collection of the embryos from the donor (seven to eight days after AI). Collection is done in a clean, temperature controlled environment. After the embryos are found they can be frozen for use later or transferred immediately to a synchronized recipient. If you would like to improve your herd with someone else’s genetics, frozen embryos can be purchased and placed into recipients
Embryo Transfer for Horses
Whether it is an older mare that can’t carry a foal, a working horse that can’t take time off to be pregnant, or a superior blood line that would be nice to have multiple offspring each year; embryo transfer has some great benefits to the equine owner. Embryo transfer in horses has a greater demand, but also comes with many other downfalls.
- Most clinicians do not superoverlate mares, so you only have, at most, one embryo each time the mare is collected.
- While usually four recipient mares to every donor are chosen, getting the cycles to be synchronized can be very time and labor extensive.
- Cost is a huge concern. For collection only the cost ranges from $3000 – $6000 and doesn’t guarantee a viable embryo. Most Clinicians will lease you a recipient mare, which can cost $1800 –$4500.
- Currently CRAH is not offering embryo transfer for horses, but can recommend a place close that does offer the service.