Our science has become advanced with modern technology and techniques. Several things which looked in possible in past are possible now. Today I am writing a report on embryo transfer technology which could be new to most of the us, but as a environment lover we must know the development being made in the field of environment, wildlife and nature.

The techniques of transferring pre-implantation stage of embryo from a donor female to a surrogate recipient can be applied to both laboratory and domesticated animals. Simply, "Embryo transfer consists of removing an embryo in its early development stage from its own mother's reproductive tract, then transferring to another female's reproductive tract for development and subsequent birth/"

With embryo transfer, a cow may be super ovulated and produce multiple offspring, so that even though generation intervals may stay the same, a donor cow may produce multiple offspring through transfer to recipient cow.

About 4 transfers can be made on each cow that responds to hormone treatment. It appears that a cow may be super ovulated about every 60 days. Most cows are used two or three times and then rested to bred to conserve naturally before reuse. At present time, embryo transfer is a tool for extending the productivity of outstanding females.

Advantages of Embryo Transfer

·         Extends the productivity of valuable dams.

·         Continue productive life of females that are injured or for some other reason cannot develop a young but are still fertile.

·         More rapid proof of dam through greater number of offspring in a short period of time.

·         Shorten generation interval by super ovulation and transferring embryo to mature recipients.

·         Transfer embryos from proven stocks to under developed areas with native unproductive stocks, thereby utilizing genetic potential in an entirely different environment.

·         Desirable breeds can be made adaptable to particular location by using adapted local breed as recipient.

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Disadvantages of Embryo transfer

·         It is very costly and highly technical.

·         Loss of outstanding dams through surgery or adhesions after surgery.

·         Response to hormones is erratic, some female responds while others donot.

·         Repeated treatment with protein hormones (PMSE and FSH) induces antibody formation and animal become refractory with repeated treatments.

Steps of Embryo transfer

The following are the steps of embryo transfer

1.      Selection of donor and recipient

2.      Estrous synchronization

3.      Super-ovulation

4.      Estrous synchronization and artificial insemination

5.      Embryo collection

6.      Examination of embryo

7.      Transfer of embryo