Embryo

ET is the process of making embryos in the laboratory, outside the body of the cow and eventually transferring these embryos into the uterus of surrogate cow. Using the method of ovum pick up (OPU) unfertilized oocytes are collected directly from the ovaries of the high progeny donor cows and heifers. One day after aspiration, these oocytes are processed to undergo fertilization using semen (high merit or sexed) through a process called as invitro fertilization (IVF) and the fertilized eggs are incubated for seven days to develop into embryos. The incubation conditions mimic the physiological state of the uterus to allow the fertilized egg to develop into embryo. These embryos are then transferred into recipient cows seven days after the recipient’s standing heat or estrus, which is similar to the physiological conditions during the natural pregnancy process.

Breeders who choose to use IVF technology have the opportunity to obtain more number of bovine offspring from high pedigree females in their herd. This technology is a way to help farmers increase the cow’s reproductive efficiency. In vitro ET using IVF comes with additional opportunity, which allows breeders to collect offsprings from pregnant cows, virgin heifers, as well as problematic females who have been undergoing difficulty in conventional breeding attempts. By creating more off springs that are valuable to a herd, breeders can advance their marketing opportunities, improve the reproductive performance, and enhance the rate of genetic gain. The TBG ET technology using Gaubryo TM offers breeders to jump on the next generation of their animals in a shorter period of time without altering other vital aspects of their breeding program.