Embryo Flush Identification

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PLEASE DON'T IGNORE ME...  

If you have ever done flush work, or plan to do flush work, please read the following most often ignored embryo transfer protocols.

Processing of Flush Information:

  • Flush and implant information must be sent to the national office.
  • All donor dams must be parentage verified via DNA or genomic test  before flush can be recorded or resulting offspring registrations will be processed.

Transfers:

  • Embryos, sold, are required to be transferred, regardless of the implantation outcome.
  • An application specifically for transferring ownership of embryos is available on the Brown Swiss Association website.
  • Transfer Applications require both the full name and registration number of the donor dam and sire. (This also applies to registrations).
  • All eggs in a single flush sold to a single buyer at one time are covered under one transfer fee.
  • Transfer fee should be paid by the seller.
  • If a cow is sold, while carrying an embryo, both the cow and embryo must be transferred.
  • Verify the straw numbers shipped match the ID numbers being transferred.

Embryos for Export:

  • Must be transferred and accompanied by a copy of the embryo identification sheet.
  • For an export order, the application for embryo export (D Form) may be used in place of an individual transfer application.

Registering ET animals:

  • When registering an ET/ETV animal, the specific Embryo ID number must be indicated. (This is the only way to connect the animal with the correct flush.)
  • When registering an ET/ETV animal on-line, in the multiple birth drop-down box, select Embryo Transplant and enter the Embryo ID number in the appropriate field. This will automatically place ET at the end of the animal's name. (DO NOT manually type ET at the end of the animal's name.)  Please note if it is from an IVF flush.

 

(Identification, Transfer, and Registration)
Effective: January 1, 2015, Updated January 1, 2021

  1. An official Certificate of Embryo Identification will be issued by the Association for each flush of a donor dam with each embryo being assigned a unique number upon receipt of and/or adherence to:
    1. Certificate of Embryo Recovery (one per flush per donor cow) submitted by the owner of the donor dam containing:
      1. Insemination information.
      2. Collection information, including number of embryos collected, transplanted, and/or stored.
      3. Transplant information, including the signature of the embryo technician or information on method of storage and labeling of container or intermediate host identification of each stored embryo.
      4. Signature of collection technician and recorded owner of donor dam.
    2. Blood typing, DNA profiling, and/or Genomic Parentage Verification information on the sire(s) and the donor dam from the laboratory designated by the Association. Parentage verification must be completed before Flush can be recorded or offspring can be registered or embryos sold (transferred).
    3. Appropriate fees for identification ($25 per flush).

  2. Transfer of Embryos
    1. If an embryo is sold, an application for transfer indicating the Embryo ID numbers of the embryos being sold must be submitted to the secretary in order that the change of ownership may be recorded and a new certificate issued.
    2. If the embryo was transplanted and the recipient cow is also a Registered Brown Swiss, the transfer of the cow will be a separate process from the transfer of the embryo and will be made through normal procedures.
    3. Transfer fees in effect at the time the application for transfer is submitted will apply.
    4. A separate transfer must be submitted for each flush and buyer combination.

  3. A Certificate of Registry of the resulting offspring from embryo transplant shall be issued by the Association following the receipt of and/or adherence to:
    1. Application for Certificate of Registry which contains the Embryo ID number.
    2. The suffix ET must be included in the name of the animal.
    3. All regular conditions for registration. This includes that only one sire’s semen be used for each individual mating cycle, unless notification is given to the Association prior to insemination.
    4. Blood typing, Genomic Parentage Verification, and/or DNA profiling information on the sire(s) and the donor dam from the laboratory designated by the Association. Parentage verification must be completed before offspring can be registered or embryos sold (transferred).
    5. Blood typing, Genomic Parentage Verification and/or DNA profiling information on all offspring in cases where semen from more than one sire is used and qualification as offspring of stated parents. The owner accepts the risk of one or more of the resulting offspring not being eligible for registration in cases where blood typing and/or DNA profiling cannot verify beyond a doubt the correct sire. The cost of all blood typing and/or DNA profiling required is to be incurred by the applicant.
    6. Offspring resulting from the mating to only one sire will be issued a Certificate of Registry. Blood typing and/or DNA profiling will be done on a random basis. Fees are the responsibility of the owner. If blood typing and/or DNA profiling results do not confirm parentage, the Certificate of Registry will be canceled immediately.
    7. Blood typing, Genomics, and/or DNA profiling will be the responsibility of the applicant. All requests for blood typing and/or DNA profiling must be made through the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders’ Association.
    8. The recorded owner of the transplanted embryo at the time of birth of the resulting calf shall be eligible to register it.
    9. Registration fees in effect at the time the application for registry is submitted will apply.

Register a Flush by emailing the Certificate of Embryo Recovery to ahorn@brownswissusa.com.

The most important factor to remember to avoid extra fees and make it easy to register your ET calves is to get paperwork from your vet and register your flush immediately!  DO NOT wait to sort out paperwork after a calf is born. 

1. First the cow is flushed.  Remember ALL donor dams must be parentage verified before any work can be processed by BSCBA.

2. Owner must get Certificate of Embryo Recovery from the vet.
     a. A copy must be sent to the Brown Swiss Association for processing. It may be emailed, faxed or mailed. Email flush info to  ahorn@brownswissusa.com. 

3. An official Certificate of Embryo Identification will be issued by the Brown Swiss Association for each flush of a donor dam with each embryo being assigned a unique embryo ID number ONLY upon receipt of and/or adherence to the following:
     a. Certificate of Embryo Recovery (one per flush per donor dam) submitted by the owner of the donor dam containing:
     b. Insemination information: Donor dam name and registration number, sire name and registration number.
     c. Collection information: number of embryos collected, direct transfers, frozen (stored), cleaved (degenerated), shipped
        and unfertilized eggs, date of breeding and date of recovery.
     d. Transplant information: signature of the transplant technician, information of method of storage and labeling of container, recipient ID numbers for fresh transplants.
     e. Signature of collection technician (vet) and recorded owner of donor dam.
     f.  Donor dam has been parentage verified.

4. If a donor dam is being flushed for the first time you will want to do the following:
      a.  Request parentage verification by genomics or DNA on the donor dam from BSCBA or the lab of choice if want Genomic results. 
         i.  See Parentage Verification or Genomics for further information.
         ii.  Send sample directly to the test center, i.e., GeneSeek, Zoetis, ST Genetic Visions.
      b.  The fee for parentage kits sent by BSCBA are $45 per donor dam which must be paid for before we send out the kit (Parentage ONLY, Genomics NOT included).
 
5.  Once results are received, the Embryo Recovery form will be processed and owner will be sent a Certificate of Embryo Identification with each embryo being assigned a unique embryo ID number to be used for registering resulting calves

6. When frozen embryos are being transplanted into recipients, an Implant sheet must be submitted letting the Brown Swiss Association know which recipients received which embryos.  If Certificate of Embryo Identification is lost, the office can look up the embryo ID numbers to find which embryos have resulting calves. There is no fee associated with the Implant sheets.

7. Effective January 1, 2021, the fee of $25 will be invoiced/charged for each flush when the original Certificate of Embryo Recovery sheet is received and processed.

8. It is the responsibility of embryo owner to get information from flush vets. BSCBA will not contact vets for paperwork. Any paperwork missing information will be returned for completion and no fees will be waived for vets holding up paperwork.

9. IVF embryos follow the same procedures, but it should be noted they are IVF.  Resulting animals are labeled ETV in the name.

10.  If more than one sire is used in the flush or, in the case of IVF's, if more than one sire and/or dam is used in the petrie dish, all resulting offspring must be parentage verified in order that correct parentage information can be recorded in the herdbook at time of registry.
 

Embryos must be transferred to new owners at time of sale. If this is not done registration of resulting calves will be delayed. An embryo transfer application includes the following information must be filled out completely before processing:

1. Number of embryos being sold, Date of sale, New owner information, Transaction number (which can be found on the Certificate of Embryo Identification), Embryo ID numbers of the embryos being sold, Cane number, Straw numbers, Donor dam name and registration number, Sire name and registration number, and the Recovery date.

2. The fee for a transfer of embryos is $25 per flush/per new owner done at the same time.

If you have any questions about the embryo recording or transferring process or on parentage verification, please contact Allicia Horn at Ext. 22.  Please direct any policy questions to Executive Secretary Norman C. Magnussen at Ext. 24.