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Embryo Transfer

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Our team was the first to successful vitrify equine ICSI embryos in 2009
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A good recipient is an essential part of the equation.

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A bad recipient is a deal breaker. (Good candidates are young (aged 4-8 years), ideally maiden or with good/uncomplicated foaling histories (up to 12 years), good perineal conformation and normal cytology/uterine culture negative.)

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an example of a recipient with good perineal conformation: tight seal, no shelving or angulation

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here's a recipient with poor perineal conformation: a shelf for fecal material to enter easily

Whether flushed from your mare after breeding (conventional embryo recovery/transfer) or produced in vitro (oocyte retrieval and ICSI), a number of options are available for your embryos. 

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Our team offers various options for embryo transfer, customized for our clients and depending on where the donor and recipient mares are located in relation to us.  

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  • On-site Donor Mare Management: Depending on the location of the mare (see links for collaborating facilities), we provide optimal reproductive management, from breeding to embryo collection to transfer. Local mares can sometimes go home and return, while some mares may need to stay until desired pregnancies are established. Attention to detail in every step of the mare's cycle makes the difference.

  • Outpatient (Haul-in) Embryo Recovery and Transfer: Mare owners can keep their mares at home and work with their local vet for breeding management, where available. Mares can then be hauled in for the flushing procedure and transfer or freezing of an embryo. Communication regarding breeding management and ovulation is crucial and requires careful collaboration and coordination for success but offers flexibility for those who like to keep their mares at home. 

  • Embryo Transfer: Client-owned recipient mares are expertly managed by our team and are usually are discharged after day 35 of pregnancy. The quality of the recipient used can not be overstated. We emphasize the importance of healthy, young recipient mares with no ongoing issues. We evaluate potential recipient mares for reproductive health before embryo transfer. Embryos are transferred non-surgically, and recipients receive progesterone supplementation. Let us help you make sure you have the best possible candidate.

  • Shipped-In/Out Embryos: Embryos flushed off-site can then be transferred or frozen by our team, depending on the circumstances.  Again, careful coordination is required for proper recipient synchronization based on the donor mare's ovulation. Embryos we recover can also be shipped (fresh or frozen) out for transfer at other facilities. Our team can breed the donor mare, collect the embryo, and ship it to another facility for transfer based on client preferences and coordination with the receiving facility for synchronization and shipping.

  • Embryo Freezing: Embryos can be frozen (cryopreserved using vitrification) for later transfer depending on the client’s needs, market values, and recipient availability. Expect a 5-10% decrease in pregnancy rates compared to the transfer of fresh embryos. Freezing offers advantages like collecting embryos in the fall for spring transfer, waiting for a suitable recipient, or long-term storage until the time is right. Because of our specialized freezing techniques, small or large embryos can be cryopreserved for later transfer when it works best for our clients. We will store the embryo safely until then. 

  • Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) of Recovered Embryos: Whether its sex, color or an undesirable genetic disease, the technique of embryo biopsy allows you to know what you're transferring. Embryos are sampled for cells and cryopreserved pending the DNA testing. The client can decide whether or not to transfer. 

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Testing is available for: 1) sex 2) genetic disease (GBED, HERDA, HYPP, Lethal White Overo, Malignant Hypothermia, PSSM1 for Quarter Horses and related breeds, or CA, LFS for Arabians) and 3) coat color (Red Factor, Agouti, Champagne, Dun, Pearl, Silver, Lethal White Overo, Gray, Sabino-1, Tobiano, Dominant White W10, Splashed White). 

What they are saying...

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" Introducing Whizkey N Diamonds x Smokums Treana 2025 palomino colt, Cody, born on Wednesday, February 26th."

 

This is an especially memorable ICSI success story for us at VRI. Our client, S6 Ranch in Knightsen, CA wanted to try for one last baby out of their 11 year-old daughter's beloved 25 year-old heart horse. We were so pleased that we were successful in creating and implanting a healthy embryo in their sweet recip mare, Keeva. Their now 12 year old is already planning her future high school show career with her new colt Cody.  

ANGIE & LOUIS SALVADOR

@s6horses

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