[Lindsayanne]

I'd vaguely heard of this before, but had no idea it was accessible to *normal* breeders. (figured it was something for the five and six figure horse market) but the topic happened to come up today with my trainer and apparently our equine vet is now doing it, and far more reasonably than I expected.

I'm extremely interested in doing this with Ebony.

I'm going to be a nervous wreck the entire time she's pregnant- if anything would happen to her my breeding goals would be set back seriously about 20 years. Doing embryo transfer with a second and possibly third mare would allow me to get my breeding program kick started without having to settle for lower quality stock and without the stress of putting all my eggs in one basket (literally, haha).

So, does anyone have any experience with it? I'm reading up now- but in terms of real life experience- anyone have any input?

[BornToRide]

hmm i have never even heard of something like that... sounds a little dangerous to me tho..

[bluejay]

I've only seen it with dogs, the vet I work with did one not too long ago, and everything went well. I've never seen it done with horses, but I'd be really curious to learn more!

[Lindsayanne]

here's a little info for those not familiar with it:

Embryo transfer (ET) is a procedure that is becoming more and more popular in the equine world for obtaining foals. This technique involves recovering embryos from bred (donor) mares and placing them in a recipient mare who, in turn, carries the foal. There are several reasons for the use of this procedure. Multiple foals can be produced from one mare (possibly genetically superior) in a breeding season. It can be used to produce foals from mares that cannot take time off from racing or showing. Embryo transfer can also be used to produce foals from subfertile mares that are unable to successfully carry a foal to term. Young fillies that can produce viable embryos but are not yet able to carry them may be used as donor mares. Older mares no longer capable of carrying a foal also make good candidates for embryo transfer. Embryo transfer also cuts down on breeding injuries and the spread of venereal diseases to the horses. However, this is not an accepted method of breeding for all breeds of horses. Before choosing embryo transfer as a breeding method, check with the specific breed registry.

Embryo transfer involves the use of a donor and recipient mares who must be synchronized in their estrous cycles. Both mares should be healthy, reproductively sound and cycling regularly. Seven days after the donor mare is bred her uterus can be flushed to recover the embryo. Several liters of Dulbecco’s phosphate buffered saline are warmed and infused into the uterus through a catheter. The uterus is flushed several times and drained into a filtered collection bottle. The collected embryos are evaluated for viability based on their size, grade, morphology and developmental stage. Only the most valuable embryos are used for transfer in order to maximize the use of the recipient mare and not waste her time on poor quality embryos. Non-surgical embryo transfer is the method most commonly used in private practice, but does have a slightly lower success rate than surgical transfer. When transferring the embryo to the recipient mare, it is important she ovulated no more than one day before and three to five days after the donor mare. The embryo is placed in a straw attached to an insemination gun. The gun is placed in transcervically into one uterine horn aided by rectal palpation. The embryo is deposited and the gun is removed and checked to make sure no embryo remains in the straw. After the transfer is complete, the recipient mares should be examined for pregnancy by ultrasound on days 12 (five days after transfer), 14, 30 and immediately before being shipped to the client. A fifty percent (or greater) success rate is expected if the procedure is carried out properly and suitable donor and recipient mares were selected.

As it is becoming more popular, the demand for qualified veterinarians is increasing. This technique can be done by the private practitioner on the farm, which makes it very accessible to most clientele. Selecting the mares, synchronizing, flushing the embryo and then transferring it all take time, but the rewards of success will be well worth the wait when a mare unable to carry a foal for various reasons is able to produce a viable offspring.

Equine Embryo Transfer
By Sara Wesdorp, DVM

[lovemyshy]

I actually just saw embryo transfer with horses on the show dirty jobs not too long ago, but before that never knew it existed. It was really quite interesting!! I think as long as the Vet keeps everything very clean and sterile it isn't that dangerous.

[bluejay]

As long as its safe for both mares I think its a great idea

[Sandra-A1]

When dealing with registered horses make sure the Registry/Association approves of it and if so...make sure you read & understand the regulations/rules for embryo transfer BEFORE you start....and then follow them to the letter.

[Lindsayanne]

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

When dealing with registered horses make sure the Registry/Association approves of it and if so...make sure you read & understand the regulations/rules for embryo transfer BEFORE you start....and then follow them to the letter.

That was the first thing I checked!! There's a ton of paperwork involved, but the blood registry for curlies does register foals produced through embryo transfer and, even better news, has no limit on the number of foals each year that can be registered as offspring of a single mare (though they have to be DNA typed).

I'm just so jived about this. I've been DreamHorse-ing for broodmares tonight.

[Shannon]

My mare supposedly has been a recipient mare once or twice, and she's certainly fine . Embryo transfer is HUGE now in the WB market, or at least it's getting there. I have a whole book on it somewhere around here...well, a book about "artificial" breeding practices and it has a good deal of info on embryo transfer. Want it?

[ssurider9]

It's big with the Quarter Horses too. The main concern is Unterine infections. Since there is forgein fluid going in and out of the uterus. Some mares are more prone to it than others. It can be very sucsessful if done properly. Make sure you have a vet that has experience with it.