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Why Choose GENSTOCK?
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Australia's largest on centre Embryo Transfer (ET) facility.
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3000 donor ewes programmed at GENSTOCK last breeding season.
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ET can be performed on farm or on centre.
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Recipient selection unmatched in this industry.
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Mature ewes averaged 7.5 pregnancies per donor flushed.
Maiden ewes from 6 months of age averaged 5.1 pregnancies per donor
flushed.
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One ewe produced 112 lambs from 4 flushes in a 5-month period.
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Our on centre facility makes embryo transfer management "easy"
for clients - with GENSTOCK taking full management responsibility.
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You only pay for the pregnancies your donor's achieve.
GENSTOCK TAKES ALL THE RISKS AND YOU RECEIVE ALL THE BENEFITS.
What Does ET Involve?
Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) is the process whereby
superior donor ewes are superovulated and artificially inseminated to
produce fertilised embryos. These embryos are surgically removed at days
5-6 and then laparoscopically transferred to synchronised, commercial
grade recipient ewes to establish a surrogate pregnancy.
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DAY 0
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DAY 13
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DAY 15
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DAY 20 or 21
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Donors
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CIDRS inserted
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Superovulation Drugs injected
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CIDRS removed & PMSG injected
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Laparoscopic AI
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ET
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Recipients
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Sponges Inserted
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Sponges removed & PMSG injected
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ET
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Embryos can be transferred fresh, or frozen and transferred at a
later date
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Embryos can be frozen and then sold to anywhere in Australia or overseas
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Embryos can be chilled for up to 36 hours after flushing and then
transferred anywhere in Australia. However, recipient ewes must be
programmed to receive the embryos the following day. Chilled embryos
obtain a higher take rate than frozen embryos.
Advantages of ET
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Allows utilisation of superior female genetics, enabling large numbers
of progeny to be produced per ewe
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Rapid multiplication of genetic lines or introduced sheep breeds
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Facilitates exporting and importing of elite female genetics
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Offers a reduced risk of disease spread
Ideal Donor Ewe
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A maiden ewe (at least 8 months of age) should weigh at least 50kg.
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Donors should have no history of reproductive disorders. These ewes
can be checked by GENSTOCK prior to programming.
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Score 2-3 body condition
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On a rising plane of nutrition at CIDR insertion
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Management practices should be performed at least 2 weeks prior to
programme commencement.
Ideal Sire
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Semen must be of the highest quality for an ET programme. The donor
ewe ovulates over a period of time, hence the semen must be able to
survive for this time period.
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GENSTOCK prefers to use freshly collected semen. Frozen/thawed semen
may be used, however, there may be a corresponding decrease in the
overall success rate.
Ideal Recipient
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GENSTOCK recommends programming 10 recipients per donor programmed.
This allows for careful selection of mothers – 2-4 y.o. ewe who
has previously lambed, 2 functional teats, trimmed feet and good body
condition (2.5-3).
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Ensure all management practices (shearing, worming, back lining etc.)
are carried out 2 weeks prior to programme commencement.
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Do not disturb the recipient ewes for at least 6 weeks after ET.
JIVET
JIVET (Juvenile Invitro Embryo Transfer) involves super-ovulation of
young lambs at 2-3 months of age, and the subsequent harvesting of the
oocytes from the ovaries. The oocyte is then fertilised externally, cultured
in an incubator for four days and then implanted into a recipient mother.
All of this has been made possible in conjunction with SARDI (South Australian
Research & Development Industry). With all JIVET programmes, the eggs
are taken back to South Australia where they are fertilised and cultured
before being flown back for implantation. The procedure from our end is
fairly straight forward. Like any new technology – the results can
be variable and therefore costly.
The important factor to remember with JIVET is that large numbers of
progeny can potentially be achieved from lambs that are still too young
to flush utilising existing MOET technology. However, obviously these
young lambs are yet to be progeny tested, and therefore it’s application
may be limited
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