EMBRYO TRANSFER SERVICES

Embryo Transfer provides the fastest method of producing multiple offspring from a small nucleus of top females in your herd.

More about embryo transfer
Martin Hamer Veterinarian

Embryo transfer services

Embryo Transfer
provides the fastest method of producing multiple offspring from a small nucleus of top females in your herd.

EmbryoCo specialises in providing embryo transfer services throughout New Zealand using qualified veterinarians.  Our team has many years of experience in embryo transfer both in New Zealand and internationally.

We provide on farm services with our specialised vets and embryologists.  We can supply recipients for thawing and transferring imported and domestically frozen embryos (IVF excluded).

The recipient centre comprises a nearby property of a thousand acres owned and operated by the Nankervis family.

More About embryo transfer

Services regions

New Zealand

  • Bay of Plenty
  • Canterbury
  • Gisborne
  • Hawke's Bay
  • Manawatu
  • Wanganui

our services

On-Farm embryo collection
transfer, freezing, and thawing.

Recipient supply
with non-surgical or surgical embryo transfers.

Mobile Laboratory
for South Island Embryo Transfer.

about us

about us

EmbryoCo brings together a team of operators from the cattle embryo transfer industry in New Zealand.

Our team offers many years of experience and expertise in all expects of embryo transfer.

We offer a professional and quality service.

On-Farm embryo collection
transfer, freezing, and thawing.

Recipient supply
with non-surgical or surgical embryo transfers.

PLEASE BOOK YOUR COWS AT LEAST 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR DESIRED FLUSH DATE TO ENSURE YOU FIT INTO THE MONTHLY SCHEDULE IN YOUR AREA.

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Watch a short video by Rural Delivery on EmbryoCo. Embryo Transfer in Cattle, Export Collection  Center and surgical embryo transfer into recipient cattle by Martin Hamer and Co.

Video Embryoco

introducing the team

Martin Hamer

Dr Martin Hamer

Veterinarian. Twenty + years experience in cattle embryo transfer.

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Martin Hamer

Julie Baucke

Embryologist. Eight years international experience in embryo transfer.

Martin Hamer

Jo Smith

Embryologist. Thirty years international experience in embryo transfer.

Martin Hamer

Kerry Nankervis & daughter Jenna

Recipient providers, Hawke's Bay.

Kerry has twenty years experience in cattle breeding and embryo transfer.

information on embryo transfer programmes

On farm embryo transfer requires a simple programme of injections, heat detection, and insemination on the cows. Briefly this involves an initial synchronisation of donors and recipients using a single injection of ovuprost or a similar prostaglandin. This gives us an initial starting Heat date for the donor cows.

The FSH injections, which produce superovulation, begin between 9 and 14 days from the donor cows starting heat date and continue morning and night for 4 and 1/2 days. Another ovuprost injection is given to the donors on the 4th day and to the recipients on the 3rd day of FSH injections. This results in donors and recipients showing heats on the 6th day. Donors are inseminated or put to the bull at this heat and all recipient heats are recorded.

Seven days after the donor heat we will arrive to flush the donor cows' uterus, find and assess the embryos and transfer them to the recipients. We can also freeze any excess embryos.

Before commencing a programme donor cows should be at least 2 months after calving and cycling regularly. Where heifers are to be programmed these should be cycling regularly and preferably shown 3 good heats. Donors should be in good condition and preferably not fat. We can discuss a nutrition programme with you to maximize results. For recipients we recommend either heifers or cows with a good reproductive history. Recipients should be cycling regularly and at least 2 months should have elapsed since last calving. It is useful to have donors and recipients examined prior to the programme to ensure they are not pregnant, are cycling normally, and have no abnormalities.

Embryo collection results vary between donors but the average is 6 good embryos per flush. You can usually expect about 3 to 4 pregnancies per flush. Not all donors will produce a good number of embryos, which is why we suggest that it is more efficient to do more than one donor at a time. You should have at least 8 recipients per donor ready for the programme. Donors can be collected repeatedly, with a recommended 8 weeks between collections.

EmbryoCo also provide in-centre embryo programmes where the donor cows are simply sent to our collection centre and we take care of the programming and collection process. In-centre collections tend to produce better numbers of good embryos per collection. Embryos are either frozen or transferred to our own recipients. The breeder then buys whatever recipients are pregnant at 3 months.

At the recipient facility the cattle are manage solely to produce the best pregnancy rate. Embryos are transferred surgically in specialised facilities. The total package provides significantly higher pregnancy results with rates of 75% to 80% being the norm from both fresh and frozen embryos. This compares to a wide variation on-farm of between 50% and 70%.

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Embryo Transfer Price List 2021

why use our recipients?

EmbryoCo works with the Nankervis Family in Hawkes Bay to provide recipient cattle.  The recipients are crossbred beef heifers, most commonly Hereford Friesian crosses, and are all over 18 months of age when implanted.

There are several advantages of using the nankervis recipients:

  1. We have been getting average pregnancy results of over 75% from 400 transfers per season.  (This is an indication of average results. Individual results can vary for many reasons).
  2. In comparison, you may expect pregnancy results of between 50% and 70% on farm, the average being about 60%.  An extra 15% can be valuable.
  3. You only have to buy the recipients that get pregnant.  In your own programme you would need to schedule at least three times as many recipients as actually get pregnant.
  4. You only buy the pregnant recipient after 10 to 12 weeks pregnancy.  If you were using your own recipients you would have owned them for 14 to 16 weeks by then. 
  5. We do all the oestrus synchronisation, heat detection and pregnancy testing at a very reasonable price, which we average over the programme and charge at only $48 per embryo implanted (For the additional costs of transferring embryos see our price list).
  6. The recipients give few, if any, calving problems provided they are correctly managed.
  7. Embryos are transferred surgically at the purpose built facility.  This, and the excellent management, results in the high pregnancy rates.
  8. If you are importing frozen embryos, they will be valuable to you.  Every extra pregnancy is an additional return on your investment.  Our system gives your embryos the very best chances of producing calves.

Pregnant Recipients are $2,060 plus GST each (check current price with us as this can vary).  
Price is inclusive of BVD testing and full BVD vaccination.  
Price does not include transport of the pregnant recipient.

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