Sheep Embryo Transfer In South Wales
We offer an excellent service for sheep embryo transfer in South Wales. With a dedicated laboratory and accommodation for super ovulation of donor ewes.
Embryo Transfer Planner
Getting your head around embryo flushing can be difficult. Download this spreadsheet and input your ideal lambing date. The sheet should reload with key dates for the synchronisation programme. These dates are a guide and a personalised programme will be created for you.
Sheep MOET (Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer)
Embryo Flushing
Embryo flushing requires a donor ewe to be superovulated with a personalised flushing programme. We can supply all the hormones for the programme for you to do this on farm or the donor ewes can stay with us and we can carry out the programme for you.
Come insemination day the AI can be done with fresh or frozen semen in the same process as the laparoscopic AI described on the laparoscopic AI page.
The flushing procedure is routinely done to collect between Day 5 and Day 7 embryos. On average you would expect 5 implantable embryos per donor ewe. These numbers can be variable with some ewes giving very large numbers and some none at all. At SWFVs we will work with you to try and improve flushing results by alteration of flushing programmes and AI timing.
We have the ability to freeze embryos in our onsite laboratory for domestic use.
Embryo Transfer
At South Wales Farm Vets we have the ability to implant both fresh and frozen embryos (whether they were frozen by ourselves or another practice).
Implantation of embryos involves partial key hole surgery, similar to that of laparoscopic AI. The recipient ewes are synchronised and implanted 6 days post oestrus. We can implant both singles and twins. See our page on Recipient Selection (hyperlink) for more information.
Improving Flushing Results
Flushing donor ewes has the potential to be a very rewarding process, albeit it can also be a very disappointing one. These are some pointers that may improve success rates:
- Ensure donor ewes are of good health and have had any vaccinations well in advance of starting a flush programme
- Ensure ewes are of an appropriate body condition for their breed (2.5-3.75), aim for fit not fat. Ideally on a rising plane of nutrition going in to the programme and this continues through the programme.
- Minimise stress during the flush programme.
- Correct any trace element deficiencies before the programme starts eg selenium
- Follow the flush programme injections exactly, the timings are important! If you think you will struggle with the programme contact us for clarification. We do also offer a donor ewe programming service where your ewes stay with us for the entire programme.
- Use Regulin 60 days before ET programme
- Use teaser rams to improve oestrus detection
