Embryos were collected in the spring of 2008 by Animal Breeding Services of NZ. ABS has 25 years experience with freezing sheep and goat embryos and in recent years has frozen several thousand embryos per year. The technique for freezing and thawing goat embryos is quite specialised and has been refined during that time. According to ABS, embryo survival rates normally exceed 60% when frozen and thawed by their team.

ABS can perform the embryo transfer process for auction buyers, as they plan to have a team in the USA in late September or early October of 2008. ABS recommends transferring embryos in groups of about 50 embryos per location. The cost would be US$35 per embryo to thaw and US$70 per recipient to transfer plus share of travel costs which will be in the region of US$1200 per farm depending on location.

For 50 embryos, costs would be approximately $100 per embryo:

Recipient synchrony costs: 30 recipients x $10 =$300
Thaw :50 x $35 = $1750
Transfer: 25 x $70 = $1750
Travel: approximately $1200

On-farm activities are an important part of implant success. Potential buyers are encouraged to contact ABS to discuss the details of embryo transplant, even if they have done it before, especially if they had a negative experience. For more information, contact:

John Hepburn
Animal Breeding Services Ltd
3680 State Highway 3
R.D. 2
HAMILTON 2021
Ph Office 07 8433808
Ph Mobile 0272801805
info@abreeds.co.nz