Embryo Flushing in the Field

The use of embryo transfer as a breeding technique is growing throughout the UK. Historically the entire embryo transfer process was carried out at a specialist practice or centre but now experienced equine reproduction vets are starting to carry out the artificial insemination (AI), flushing and searching as ambulatory procedures and transporting the chilled embryo to a specialist embryo transfer centre for transfer into a suitable recipient. The most time consuming and difficult part of the embryo transfer process is synchronising recipients and transferring the embryo into the most suitable recipient with the best chance of maintaining the pregnancy. If vets are able to perform most of the procedures at or near the client’s yard, the competition mare has less disruption to her routine. The key to successful embryo transfer is planning ahead. Not only must the donor mare be perfectly inseminated and an ovulation date recorded but there must be synchronised recipients to transfer the embryo into. This requires not only skill in equine reproduction but also good liaison with the recipient herd veterinary surgeon from the start of the donor reproduction checks (as early as giving prostaglandin) until the uterus is in perfect condition post ovulation. [...]