Kyle Caires (HNFAS) recently presented an important breakthrough stemming from his reproductive physiology research at the XXIII Brazilian Congress of Animal Reproduction held in Gramado, RS, Brazil. “The Economic Viability and the Embryo Production by the Use of IVF and SOV Techniques in Wagyu Cattle” is part of an ongoing collaboration with scientists at the University of Passo Fundo (Brazil). This project involved research trials using classic and contemporary techniques in embryology to improve embryo production in Wagyu cows. Wagyu cattle are known for their excellent beef quality, but their poor fertility leads to high production costs and slow genetic improvement.
All that may be about to change. Kyle and his colleagues have developed a new reproductive management protocol for these cattle that yielded twice as many pregnancies when compared to in vitro fertilization (IVF)-derived embryos—and perhaps more importantly, these embryos were also produced at 69.3% less cost than IVF!
The paper also offered a thorough economic analysis of inputs, outcomes, and quantitative traits to create a novel framework for better decision support in reproductive management programs for cattle producers in the USA and abroad. Kyle, pictured here with some Wagyu, received an award for the paper, which was selected for publication in the Brazilian Journal of Animal Reproduction.