Harold Millers’ challenge: After a few negative experiences with previous IVF companies, Harold was looking for a more effective, results-driven company.
How Vytelle helped: Through Vytelle’s technology at Bluestem’s satellite location, Harold could more effectively, efficiently offer IVF services to his clients and help them build up their herds.
About Harold Miller:
Harold is a consultant who aims to make producers more successful by using available genetics and new technologies to build a strong genetic base.
About Bluestem Embryo Transfer Center (BETC):
BETC is a Powered by Vytelle™ Satellite location and full-service cattle repro facility located in Carlton, Kansas.
The Problem
Harold Miller was skeptical about in vitro fertilization (IVF).
He’s a consultant who’s trained more than 7,000 farmers and ranchers on artificial insemination in cattle, and has worked with clients nationwide to accelerate their herd’s genetic progress. But he hadn’t had much success with IVF and didn’t feel confident he’d be able to get strong results for his clients using the method.
Plus there had been other issues with previous IVF companies. As someone who cares about how his cattle and client’s cattle are being treated, Harold wanted to ensure that any partner he worked with had top-tier integrity. He also valued frequent, honest communication. But unfortunately, Harold experienced pretty close to a worst-case scenario with a previous company.
He had paid $100,000 for half-interest in an Angus cow. But during the animal’s OPU session, the company accidentally inserted Wagyu semen. It was a “customer service nightmare,” Harold said, and they received little compensation for the mix-up. In another instance, one of Harold’s donors had been hurt — but the company didn’t inform him.
Needless to say, Harold wasn’t chomping at the bit to start over with another IVF company.
The Solution
Then, Harold spent a day at Bluestem Embryo Transfer Center, a Powered by Vytelle™satellite location. Harold was impressed with Vytelle’s professionalism, expertise and openness.
“Because of not having good results from previous IVF companies, I was standing back from using IVF,” Harold said. “Then Bluestem had a customer meeting in their facility with a Vytelle technician where we could watch on the monitor how they went about the process. That, combined with their skill level, is what convinced me to change our entire approach.”
Harold began using Vytelle’s ADVANCE™platform at BETC. Using Vytelle’s modern IVF technique, he could help his clients’ herds move forward more quickly by multiplying offspring from elite-performing animals.
“We’ve got to have results. We’ve got to have embryos. We’ve got to have pregnancies,” said Casey Barton, DVM, owner of BETC. “Ultimately we need live calves on the ground—and they need to be healthy, weaned calves. Vytelle helps make that happen.” v“We’ve got to have results. We’ve got to have embryos. We’ve got to have pregnancies,” said Casey Barton, DVM, owner of BETC. “Ultimately we need live calves on the ground—and they need to be healthy, weaned calves. Vytelle helps make that happen.”
The Results
Thanks to his partnership with Vytelle at BETC, Harold has helped his clients achieve better results and build stronger genetic bases. This partnership has led to:
More frequent, streamlined communication
A relationship with an IVF company isn’t just about embryo production. It’s also about building trust, avoiding crossed wires, and being proactive. For Harold, he found all that with Vytelle and BETC.
“It’s a huge advantage for me because I know how the cattle are going to be handled,” Harold said. “There’s a great relationship there and there’s immediate communication. I get a report before the day is over and we’re communicating constantly.”
Easy, accessible service
With Vytelle’s techs able to perform services so close by thanks to the partnership with BETC, Harold can more quickly and efficiently help his clients.
Vytelle’s excellent communication also makes their service more accessible and efficient.
“As we’re getting into crunchtime in the spring, getting feedback from the lab as quickly as possible is very important to me. That way I know how many embryos I have available to ship to other states.” Harold said. “We’ve been really pleased with the whole group at Vytelle.”
Better results, better genetic bases
Most importantly, Vytelle’s IVF services drive results. Harold can confidently help his clients drive genetic improvements in their herd — without the missteps, miscommunication, and missed goals he’d experienced with other companies.
“I had another very well-known purebred breeder ask me how in the world I could get some of these clients to the genetic level that I get them to in a 3-5 year timeframe,” Harold said. “And Vytelle is how I do it. To me, it’s not an option.”
Harold has now worked with 300+ donors using Vytelle — and it’s just the beginning. “Harold has had his thumbprint on such a huge portion of the cattle industry,” Dr. Barton said. And Vytelle is the technology that empowers an expansion of that thumbprint.
“I’ve been in this business a long time, and I’ve had an opportunity over the years to work with multiple vendors,” Harold said. “But we’ve been most satisfied with the relationship we have with Vytelle.”
Metrics from Harold Miller – Vytelle partnership:
- Average age of donors: Between virgin and 2 years old
- 300 donors using Vytelle
- Average conception rate: 50-60%
- Around 32% rate of oocytes turning into Grade 1 embryos
- Several donors Harold has worked with have 150+ calves registered
