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Commercial feasibility of embryo transfer technology: a case study
D L Martin1, R D Knutson, R W Blake
1Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
Journal of Dairy Science
|October 1, 1987
Summary
Embryo transfer in dairy cows is not economically viable for milk producers when considering costs and benefits. This method did not yield significant economic advantages over traditional artificial insemination for this Holstein herd.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Agricultural Economics
Background:
- Embryo transfer (ET) is a reproductive technology used in livestock breeding.
- Assessing the economic impact of ET programs is crucial for dairy farm profitability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an economic assessment of an embryo transfer program in a 500-cow Holstein herd.
- To compare the net economic benefit of ET-produced cows versus those produced by artificial insemination (AI).
Main Methods:
- Economic analysis using marginal cost and present value of lifetime milk production.
- Comparison of 24 ET-produced cows with 51 AI-sired contemporaries.
- Calculation of pregnancy rates and embryos per collection.
Main Results:
- Average pregnancy rate was 60% for both ET and AI.
- ET produced an average of 1.37 cows in first lactation per collection.
- Marginal cost of ET replacement was +215, with no significant additional milk from donor cows.
Conclusions:
- Embryo transfer is not economically justified for dairy producers focused on milk sales under similar management and cost conditions.
- The economic benefits of ET were outweighed by its costs in this specific case.
- More intensive sire selection in ET contributed to increased milk production, but not enough to offset costs.