Artificial insemination (AI) and conventional embryo transfer (ET) effectively anchored the bovine reproductive field in years past to drive genetic progress. However, many of today’s cattle producers have added in vitro fertilization (IVF) to their reproductive programs due to a lack of progress in these technologies. IVF has quietly advanced to become a practical and economically viable reproductive tool with numerous applications for dairy and beef operations.
“The principle of IVF is creating a viable embryo outside the body of the donor cow” ,” says Vytelle reproductive services veterinarian, Dr. Joe Mancino. “The dominant reason cattle producers use IVF is to propagate valuable genetics,” Mancino says. “A cow in her natural state has one calf yearly equating to about 10 in an average lifespan. Using IVF, she could have 10 to 100 calves yearly. The highest-value animals are maximized.”
The world’s IVF industry is thriving.
The latest International Embryo Technology Society (IETS) data shows that in 2023-
- 2,411,329 embryos were collected or produced in farm animals.
- 93.2% of these 2 million plus embryos were from cattle.
- The number of embryos (IVF and conventional) produced in cattle increased by 11.5% from 2022.
- IVF-produced embryos rose by 15.8% from 2022 while conventional embryos decreased by 6.3%.
- Worldwide, IVF-produced embryos accounted for 83.5% of all transferrable cattle embryos in 2023.
In the North American dairy industry- (numbers include stimulated and non-stimulated systems).
- 126,215 donor dairy females were aspirated for IVF.
- 2,835,956 oocytes were collected.
- 523,817 transferable embryos were produced from dairy donors.
IVF terms
OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) stimulated and non-stimulated
A reproductive process that retrieves oocytes from a donor cow’s ovaries.
- A stimulated system requires a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) injection to stimulate or enlarge the follicles for easier oocyte collection.
- A non-stimulated system does not require FSH for collection.
Follicles: Follicles are fluid-filled blisters attached to the ovary surface containing oocytes (immature ova).
Eggs: Eggs (ova) are released from the ovary when the animal ovulates.
Oocytes: Oocytes are immature ova (eggs) which are collected using OPU.
Embryos: The embryos are fertilized eggs (ova) that have begun to develop into multiple cells.
Semen usage terms
- Conventional semen straws hold both male and female sperm.
- Reverse sorting is a technology separating semen for a chosen gender from a conventionally frozen semen straw.
- Pre-sexed semen straws feature only male or female sperm.
IVF procedure steps
- OPU collection- Trained OPU collection technicians insert a specially designed ultrasound-fitted probe and a guided collection needle into the fluid-filled follicles attached to the ovaries. Oocytes inside the follicles are aspirated or ‘sucked out’ and captured in a receiving tube or filter.
- The search- An embryologist rinses and searches the filter using a microscope. The viable oocytes are retrieved, counted, and graded before being placed in maturation media.
- Fertilization- After transport to the lab, and approximately 24 hours after the OPU collection, the oocytes are fertilized with the desired semen.
- Incubation- The embryos mature in incubators and a proprietary culture process for 8 days.
- Embryo transfer- If desired, fresh embryos are packaged, returned to the farm, and implanted into recipient females. Embryos can also be frozen for later use.
IVF benefits
According to Mancino, 3 major benefits are derived from using IVF.
- High-value females that shouldn’t become pregnant due to health risks like lameness, or having injured tendons, may be safely aspirated, with embryos created and transferred to recipients.
- Some high-value cattle aren’t productive due to scarring, blockages, or cervix and reproductive tract abnormalities. IVF collection, embryo development, and transfer are viable methods to produce live calves from these prized animals.
- High-value genetic females can be aspirated, with resulting embryos used for replacement females or sold to other producers desiring specific genetics.
Other minor benefits include the ability to make embryos from pregnant donors. If using a non-stimulated system, oocytes may be collected without disturbing the fetus for up to 100 days of gestation.
Since today’s IVF no longer requires a hormone injection setup procedure, donors don’t need to be cycling at the time of collection. Pre-puberty heifers can be aspirated and their oocytes collected for embryo creation.
“Identify the females you want to raise based on phenotypic data, milk production, health, reproductive fertility, longevity, or even yearly sale information,” Mancino says. “If a favorite cow always has the high-seller, or mothers the top-potential calf, what if you had a whole herd like her?”
Getting started with IVF.
Mancino explains a key aspect of dairy operations considering IVF for the first time is establishing a goal and creating a plan tied to breeding objectives. “Beyond that, getting started with IVF is driven by ease of use. With it, dairies can achieve faster genetic improvement than any other reproductive method,” he says.
Dairies new to IVF have numerous reasons to take the initial step toward reproductive advancement-
- Collection can be done from prepubertal heifers, pregnant cows, or recently calved females.
- Desired donors need little to no preparation.
- A single semen straw can be split for multiple donors.
- Operations can continue their standard artificial insemination programs during donor collections.
- Producers can build competitive genetics by making embryos every 2 weeks, all while managing their daily responsibilities.
Additionally, the recipient side of the equation is never an issue even for those new to IVF. Top-performing dairies have an internal stream of recipients to receive the highest-value embryos.
Dairies venturing into this advancing reproductive field can easily begin using IVF as their preferred solution. IVF powers genetic progress while increasing profits, bringing elite genetics into production faster.
A success story
ZBW Genetics’ Durhamville, N.Y. operation features a diverse range of dairy breeds, from Holstein to Ayrshire, Swiss, and Jerseys. Its values focus on genomics, developing cow families of interest for the buying community, and marketing embryos and live calves from its elite genetics.
“We breed to the demand,” says owner, Kevin Ziemba. “This diversifies us, helps us learn what breeders are passionate about, and keeps our hands in multiple baskets to stay two steps ahead of sudden market shifts.”
Historically, embryo transfer worked well for the dairy but was laborious and time-consuming due to flushing procedures, multiple breeding attempts, and restricted timelines.
As IVF became more straightforward with no-shot, FSH-free collection protocols, Vytelle helped ZBW trade their usual 30 embryo transfers for 30 monthly IVF completions.
ZBW Genetics success runs around 40% for conception rates on frozen and 45% on fresh embryos. Ziemba still holds the ideology of breeding better cattle, but a beef-on-dairy model shift has allowed the dairy to sell 80% of its embryo inventory and implant the remainder. This change has created consistent ROI, and a new, strong revenue stream.
The farm’s average donor has also shifted to around 17 or 18 months of age with a few as young as 4 to 5 months. They collect approximately 12 oocytes per female and develop 4.5 embryos per mated donor.
“Our success is about finding the passion of breeding balance and keeping a financial justification for doing it,” Ziemba says. “Vytelle’s ADVANCE IVF program helps us match our goals.”
Key factors for IVF success
“For lack of a better term, donors need to be clicking, moving in the right direction, on solid nutritional programs including minerals and good vaccination protocols to keep them healthy and in the best possible body condition,” Mancino emphasizes.
He urges producers to monitor and manage accordingly for cold and heat stress that greatly influences conditioning fluctuations.
“With today’s IVF we let cows be cows, get pregnant, calve out, and maintain their production cycles,” Mancino states. “The simplicity of high-value females adding genetic value to any herd’s goals fits so well.”
