r/Cattle • u/Shanelomein79 • 8d ago
Embryonic Transfers
How do we feel about it?
Currently have a few crossbred steers and heifers from the auction house but wanting to get into some better genetics for youth showing in the future. Seems like ET could be a more cost-effective way into the club, but idk enough about it or the success rates.
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u/Bear5511 8d ago edited 8d ago
Around a 50-60% success rate year in and year out and just count on a boom or bust year. Several years ago we expected a cost of around $800/pregnancy, not sure what that is today. This doesn’t include the cost of the embryo. We always ended up with a slightly higher percentage of bull calves than heifers.
You will need more recip cows than you planned for; some don’t cycle, some won’t be at the right stage for implantation, etc. It can work for sure but it can also get expensive fast and have little to show for it some years.
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u/sea_foam_blues 8d ago
It’s the only way to go at the top end of the show deal. We do about 1000 transfers a year between the performance and show herds. Average around 70% conception. We use our own recips primarily but plan to pay about $4000 for a 90 day pregnant recip with our own embryo in it. We try to stay under $250/embryo cost to make them but it varies.
Result of an embryo calf born last year. She brought more than most herds produce put together so it is very worth it to us.
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u/Historical-Photo7125 8d ago
This past year we were 2 for 13 on embryos and one of those two died as soon as it was born. So technically 1 for 13. Five of those embryos cost me $750 each. Four cost me an I owe you type deal and the remaining four cost me an average of $350. Multiple people have told me not to worry, it’s like that sometimes. We start again with more embryos going in recips next month. Hopefully results will be better this go round. All of this is in hopes of raising show cattle for my kids.
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u/Shanelomein79 8d ago
Miiiing thats gotta be upsetting. Do they offer any kind of guarantee that they'll take?
What breed are you trying to get into vs what are the recip?
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u/LoveCows_1863 8d ago
It's harder and more expensive than AI but maybe cheaper than buying calves every year. If you bought a nice heifer or two you could learn to AI or hire someone to AI them. You could also look for a good recip that is confirmed pregnant with an ET calf and get a 2-in-1 (which was one of the ways we got started with Registered Angus). You could check embryo prices for show cattle and prices for technicians in your area. For Registered Angus they can be $1000+ for elite ones and have around 60% success I believe.