J. Zeagler":1megycgw said:
$500 seems to be a pretty solid price for quality embryos. You can get them cheaper, but it may be some pretty old genetics. I ran the numbers on ET and the cost per calf (based on a 50% conception rate) was around $1,500. Which based on today's cattle market may not be that bad of a deal.
I think 1500 is to high for a per calf price . I figure if a flush cost 275$ and you recover 8 embryos. say you put in 5 and freeze 3.
5 X 75.00 to transfer=375.00$
3X 50.00$ to freeze =150.00
flush include drugs = 275.00$
total = 800.00$
with 60% conception = 3 pregnancies
525.00 divided by 3 calves = 175.00 each ( dont count the cost to freeze the 3)
you still have 3 frozen embryos in the tank . this does not include boarding for the donor if you send her to a ET center. boarding usually is around 4.00$ per day . 35 days x 4.00 = 140.00$
add this to 3 calves and you get another 45.00 per calf
total comes to $220.00 per calf when it hits the ground .
This was the way we fiqure it and we flush quite a bit and are currently in the process of starting a custom donor boarding facility in conjunction with a top embryologist here on the east coast . These figures are straight off the 2005 price list. There are variables , some flushes dont work . some cows dont flush , ect... these figures were on a good flush .