Physiological and commercial parameters for producing progeny from subfertile mares by embryo transfer

Abstract

SummaryThe cost effectiveness of using embryo transfer for producing progeny from subfertile donors is assessed. A total of 146 embryo recovery attempts performed on 34 subfertile donor mares yielded 41 transferable embryos (28 per cent recovery rate) from 27 of these mares. Non‐surgical transfer of these embryos achieved an overall pregnancy rate of 54 per cent. Therefore, the efficiency of producing a pregnancy from sub‐fertile donors was about 15 per cent per mated oestrous cycle. Financial calculations based on cost of materials and the maintenance of recipient mares indicates that a commercial embryo transfer unit would have to charge in excess of US8000 per pregnancy to realise a profit.