Embryo Collection

[lakegerts]

I was looking for comments or suggestions on having embryos collected. Let me just give you all information on my herd and stuff and you rattle off what you think. I have a Santa Gertrudis heifer that is going to calve around the 8th of September. I was planning on holding her out of the pasture with the bull until jan-march. 1) because I want to collect her, 2) I am going tone showing her this fall, 3) I want to sync her up to the rest of the herd. I have never collected embryos, but I have found the person who is going to do the collection. My main questions are, 1) on avg what amount of eggs could I expect. I just want one try at it with her this time. And 2) on avg, what can I expect to pay per embryo. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[greatgerts]

I was looking for comments or suggestions on having embryos collected. Let me just give you all information on my herd and stuff and you rattle off what you think. I have a Santa Gertrudis heifer that is going to calve around the 8th of September. I was planning on holding her out of the pasture with the bull until jan-march. 1) because I want to collect her, 2) I am going tone showing her this fall, 3) I want to sync her up to the rest of the herd. I have never collected embryos, but I have found the person who is going to do the collection. My main questions are, 1) on avg what amount of eggs could I expect. I just want one try at it with her this time. And 2) on avg, what can I expect to pay per embryo. Thanks in advance for your help.

I personally would not flush her as a 2 year old. I would want her to prove herself before flushing, but that is just me. The number of eggs can vary greatly. On one flush, Maddie gave 16 embryos (13 number 1s and 3 number 2s). The other, I believe she only gave 10. I would say not to expect more than 4, and then any over would be a bonus. The price per embryo depends on the person doing the service and the number of embryos you get. You can have anywhere from $150-$300 per embryo in expenses.

 

[SSGenetics]

I was looking for comments or suggestions on having embryos collected. Let me just give you all information on my herd and stuff and you rattle off what you think. I have a Santa Gertrudis heifer that is going to calve around the 8th of September. I was planning on holding her out of the pasture with the bull until jan-march. 1) because I want to collect her, 2) I am going tone showing her this fall, 3) I want to sync her up to the rest of the herd. I have never collected embryos, but I have found the person who is going to do the collection. My main questions are, 1) on avg what amount of eggs could I expect. I just want one try at it with her this time. And 2) on avg, what can I expect to pay per embryo. Thanks in advance for your help.

I personally would not flush her as a 2 year old. I would want her to prove herself before flushing, but that is just me. The number of eggs can vary greatly. On one flush, Maddie gave 16 embryos (13 number 1s and 3 number 2s). The other, I believe she only gave 10. I would say not to expect more than 4, and then any over would be a bonus. The price per embryo depends on the person doing the service and the number of embryos you get. You can have anywhere from $150-$300 per embryo in expenses.

It's not just you... Sound advice IMO! :tiphat:

 

[H and H]

I have to agree with greatgerts, flushing animals is a crap shoot that has the potential to screw up your heifer's reproductive system.

I have had animals flush 10 #1s to sexed semen and had a couple animals from the same cow family not flush at all. Those were expensive lessons (you can easily wrap up a grand per flush, especially if youre shipping her to ET vets and paying him to board her, for us its $50 per egg to either freeze or transfer it).

The worst experience we had was with a show winning heifer with a nice pedigree, I was partners with a couple of guys who "knew" she was the "real deal". So we talked ourselves into flushing her as a heifer, we got five eggs and she hasn't had a natural calf since. She wouldnt stick and wouldnt stick when we tried to AI her, finally got her bull bred and she sloughed the calf at 7 1/2 months...

ET is a great tool for genetic advancement, some guys make good money selling eggs, and I will continue to do it, but go in with your eyes wide open, its a gamble.

 

[pdfangus]

I also agree with the above advice from great gerts.

A first calf heifer is a long way from a proven cow....

now if she has a big show record and has many admirers then perhaps you can make a few bucks...

genetic advancement is made by flushing your really good older proven cows.....and keeping the daughters....