Embryo Transfer (ET)

Every superior ram has the ability through AI to sire many thousands of lambs annually but an elite ewe usually raises only one or maybe two lambs per year. Using ET a ewe can produce an average of 5 lambs per embryo flush or a lifetime of lambs in one mating. It is possible for a ewe to be flushed successfully several times per year for many years as long as she continues to produce.

Some donor ewes have many more than 5 lambs from an ET program but equally other ewes produce less. The average reflects the combined results achieved over many thousands of donor ewes since the late 1980’s. We suggest 3 donor ewes as being a minimum number to program.

Donor ewes can be programmed and flushed at WESTBREED in Northam and the embryos transported to your farm for implanting into recipients ewes. For more than 6 donors, the whole ET procedure including surgery and transfer can be done on farm with donors and recipients prepared by the breeder. We have experienced no difference in results achieved by either method.

Programming the donor ewe begins 3 weeks before the ET day. Around day 10 the ewes receive a series of daily injections to ensure they have multiple ovulations and are then inseminated with either freshly collected or frozen thawed semen.