Frequently Asked Questions
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What is embryo transfer?
Cattle have a 21 day oestrus cycle, with day 0 characterised by a visual display of heat. Approximately twelve hours after the end of heat, a single non-fertilised ova (most commonly referred to as an egg) is released from one of the two ovaries. If a female is bred, through either A.I. or natural service, the egg will be fertilised shortly after ovulation and develop into an embryo.
The process of embryo transfer includes a donor hormone treatment, referred to as superovulation, which increases the amount of ova (or eggs) released for that ovulation. This results in multiple embryos being formed rather than a single embryo. Embryos are then recovered, usually seven days after donor insemination, and transferred either fresh or frozen into a suitable recipient animal.
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What are the benefits of embryo collection and transfer?
Until approximately thirty years ago, rapid genetic progress was limited to the male side of genetic contribution via AI, owing to the fact that cows could realistically produce only one calf per year. Today, due to development and refinement of embryo transfer techniques, high genetic merit females have the potential to produce multiple offspring annually.
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What makes a suitable donor or recipient?
A suitable donor is a healthy and reproductively sound animal. Cows must be a minimum of 50 days calved and must have had a trouble -free calving. It is preferable, though not essential, that recipients would be of less than eight years of age. Studies have shown that pregnancy rates from embryo transfers are slightly higher in maiden heifer recipients than in cows.
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What are the health management and dietary factors to be taken into consideration?
Before beginning the programme, it is important that herd owners are aware of the health status of the herd.
As a minimum, it is required that the animal be tested free of, and then vaccinated for BVD. It is also required that animals be vaccinated for Leptospirosis. Further vaccinations are subject to the individual herd and can be discussed in full with either ourselves or the local veterinary surgeon. For example, a history of infertility/abortion on a farm may necessitate discussion in order to rectify any problems arising before any flush programme can be instigated.
After a consultation with each client (regarding matters such as herd health and dietary considerations particular to the herd), guidelines specific to the herd with be forwarded on to the client. In general though, good quality ad lib silage or "haylage", fed in conjunction with concentrates and mineral supplementation, can be taken as an optimal starting point.
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What facilities are needed?
All flushing, transferring and/or freezing takes place on-farm, thus minimising stress on both donor and recipient animal - for this reason good handling facilities are a must. A covered handling unit with excellent hygiene levels is preferable. Embryo searching, grading and extraction are carried out in our mobile laboratory. Setting up the mobile lab requires power points and an indoor medium-to-large sized flat surface such as a standard table.
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What is an EU approved embryo collection team?
We comply with Directive 89/556/EEC meaning we are approved for "for intra-community trade in embryos and ova of domestic animals of the bovine species". We are subject to a strict audit on an annual basis by the Dept. of Agriculture.
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What timeframe is involved and what would my responsibilities be?
Undertaking a programme for flushing and embryo transfer is not to be taken lightly. The following are expected of all clients;
- high levels of animal husbandry
- accommitment to follow the individual programme diligently
- availability for up to twice daily administration of drugs
We have included an example of a programme detailing the requirements below. Click here to downlad the pdf.
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