Is the Production of Embryos in Small‐Scale Farming an Economically Feasible Enterprise?

Abstract

The present assay attempts to evaluate the feasibility of using embryo transfer in small community farmers by in vivo study and by modelling the results obtained. From the total of 59 donor cows, 62.7% responded to treatment, with a significant difference (p = 0.002) in the percentage of the response between breeds, being 90.5% (19/21) in Holstein and 47.4% (18/38) in Brahman. A total of 283 embryos were graded as transferable, while 141 as non-transferable, without difference in the percentage of transferable embryo by breed (p = 0.18). The mean of transferable embryos graded as class I and II was not different between Holstein and Brahman (p = 0.96 and p = 0.92, respectively); besides, no differences were observed in the other grades (non-transferable). The highest difference in costs, regardless of its quality by breed, was seen in the lower levels of probable fertility of the embryo transferred, even reaching several hundred dollars. When modelling the expected costs for embryo produced and transferred, values can reach nearly $2000.00 when the probable fertility is only 10%. However, when the probable fertility was 60%, embryo cost was close to $300.00. This technology seems to be viable on average or high-scale systems, having a superovulatory response between 60 and 80% with 4-6 transferrable embryos. Yet, in small-scale farming, due to the reduced number of donors and/or recipients, the costs surpass the economical feasibility of the technique.

Factors Affecting Technology Adoption in Small Community Farmers in Relation to Reproductive Events in Tropical Cattle Raised under Dual Purpose Systems

“…The economic calculations of these authors for the moment make this approach not a valuable strategy in small community farmers [7] [8]. This is probably why most of the reviews on embryo transfer are of experiences obtained in the use of the technique in Bos taurus animals [9].…”

Effect of the Technological Status of Small Cow-Calf Farm Producers on the Induction to Resumption of Ovarian Activity of Dual-Purpose Cattle Raised under Topical Conditions

“…The adoption of technology such as hormonal induction of estrous cycles and artificial insemination on small scale producers has been low, and usually does not result in direct benefits to the producers due to complications in implementation, compliance to the protocols and the intrinsic characteristics of the cows such as age, genetics, nutritional conditions and general management of the farm [2] [11]. Another constraint in the transfer of technology to small-scale producers is the economic feasibility to target reproductive manipulations such as estrous synchronization that could be highly costly to the producers with often poor results [27]. Finally, it is important to acknowledge that this study is based on a low number of cows (n = 93) across farms with different technological status.…”

Prospects for increasing the utilization of cattle embryo transfer by small‐scale milk and meat producers in tropical regions

“…Improved selection and management of both embryo donors and recipients are also indicated. Reducing costs of superovulation, which are relatively higher for small‐scale producers due to the reduced number of donors and recipients (Sánchez et al., 2015), would also be beneficial in increasing acceptance of ET in the tropics, as well as its success.…”