Embryo Transplant Rules and Regulations

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

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).

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.

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.

Registration & Embryo Rules

Registration Rules & Regulations

Expanded IE Program Rules

Embryo Rules & Regulations

Embryo Protocols

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.