When used correctly, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (ET) and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) can be two of the best services available to pedigree breeders.

They offer breeders a chance to get dozens of calves from a superior cow, where before they would be limited to only nine or 10, due to cows being monovulatory, meaning they only release one egg during each ovulation, despite being born with thousands.

Combined with a lengthy gestation of nine months, it’s easy to see how many great cows don’t reach their full reproductive potential.

Substantial investment

The monetary investment in an ET programme is quite substantial. Last year, the Irish Pedigree Breeder magazine reported that an ET pregnancy would cost in the region of €690.

While this might not seem much for a calf with superior genetics, breeders need to remember this still doesn’t include the cost of the recipient, the cost of maintaining her, extra labour and extra registration fees that will be incurred.

Those looking into such a programme need to be sure the potential offspring will generate enough income to recoup some of this investment.

One of the best ways of trying to ensure this is by only considering cows which have proven themselves already – cows that have produced both bulls and heifers that have performed at the top level, be it in the parlour for dairy, at the shows or at sales.

All across the country throughout different breeds, many carry the expectation that because the animal is born by embryo transfer it warrants an added bonus.

This isn’t the case and breeders shouldn’t expect that. Whether born naturally or by ET, an animal is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

Using the services

So has it got to a stage that pedigree breeders in Ireland are making too much use of these services?

Personally, I think it has. Breeders tend to be using the services too much on animals which haven’t proven themselves, or, if they have, not to the same heights necessary to cover the added cost over the natural calf.

People are of the impression that because a cow won Tullamore, she should be flushed, or that because she was bought for a top price.

This isn’t the case. Breeding isn’t like that. Just because you have the best cow and best bull doesn’t mean you’ll have the best calf. It surely increases your chances, but doesn’t guarantee it.

Reassurance

That’s why breeders should look to older cows which have already left their mark on the breed. It brings reassurance of what the results of the programme will be.

Similarly, an ET programme is not the time to be testing out a new bull. A proven bull or even a bull used on the donor already may be the better option.

ET will also allow breeders to acquire a number of top progeny from less straws which may be rare and valuable.

Looking through the tables of calves born by ET, it’s easy to see how much some breeders are using these services.

In my opinion, only the top 10 to 15 cows of any breed should be flushed each year. Hopefully, this would lead to over 100 genetically superior-quality calves produced in the breed each year.

Integrity

While varying among breed, this would generally stand as at least 1% of each breed population. By doing this, you could retain the integrity of the ET letters after a pedigree name.

At the moment, we stand in a position where we have too many pedigree animals going for pedigree use.

If we could curtail the amount of bulls and heifers going on to breed, we could further enhance the money achieved for the average and superior animals when it comes to sale time.

Some breeders have already realised that the embryo business doesn’t pay sufficiently due to the top 1% not making a significant difference compared with the remainder of the top 20%.

While this varies on breed and the amount some can top sales at, having reduced numbers of quality over quantity could help increase the difference paid across all breeds.