Embryo Transfer

[reneek]

Can anyone tell me if these foals are really as strong and healthy as a " regular " foal? How old are the oldest ET horses now? The reason I ask is my husband and I raised Red Deer a while back, and we had several ET deer. (Yes, they really do that in deer, as we wanted huge antlers on them and it is all genetics!!!) Those fawns were never "right" from the beginning. Some of them were never really into being with the herd, which is weird for a deer. They were also very weak and sickly, eventually we lost all of them.
I would LOVE to breed my Fuerst Heinrich mare, but I want to ride her. ET seems like something I would love to do, but am hesitant because of our personal experience with the deer.

[sniplover]

They're perfectly normal and I don't think anyone thinks twice about purchasing an ET horse for performance or breeding. ET started in the 70s, was growing in popularity in the 80s and was fairly wide-spread recent years (limited by the owner's financial resources, of course)

Here's an article you will likely benefit from reading; http://ultimatehorsesite.com/articles/ei_embryotransfer.html

[Altamont Sport Horses]

I've seen lots and lots of ET foals and they have been healthy and strong. You can't tell that they are ET foals. I have one of my own here and she is quite robust from birth until now which is 1 month of age.

[Home Again Farm]

I bred my first ET in 2003. The resulting filly had a tough start, as the surrogate dam rejected her very violently. Despite being raised as an orphan that filly grew up to be a stunning, athletic and perfectly normal mare. She passed her mare performance test with AHS as a three year old after only 60 days of training and her combined inspection and MPT score placed her 2nd in the country for 3 and 4 year old mares tested by AHS in 2007.

This year I have 3 ETs on the ground. One is a full brother to a colt from last year that was a natural breeding. This year's colt is virtually identical to last years. The 3 ETs are some of the best foals I have ever bred. And, happily, this years surrogate moms have been perfect moms in every way.

[Iron Horse Farm]

I believe that the stallion Rhythm and Blues was an ET.;)

[Juniberry]

Sniplover great article thanks for the link

[dr j]

ET has been used for years in cattle, for the mere purpose to produce more superior offspring- I am sure you know this. I think even more puzzling is your whole Red Deer experience - because that is so far from what is experienced in all other species, including humans.

My children are technically "ET" children ( although I was also the recipient!LOL) and not only do they compare favorably with their peers, they are gorgeous and gifted! ( of course I am not prejudiced in the least!)

[sniplover]

You are most welcome, Juniberry! :)

[reneek]

Who knows, maybe because deer aren't meant to be "domestic". That is my theory anyway, but what do I know:confused:!! Anyway, thank you so much for the replies!!

[juniormom]

We just rec'd a call today that they still didn't recover an egg from our mare today and will try to cycle her again. They said she had a nice large follicle, but has a lot of fluid build up and they aren't having any luck retrieving an egg......... :( Any ideas as to why this would happen? They weren't sure and she is at a good repro center.........They said they may wait a little longer the next time, but don't want her to ovulate......Please help us out, as we are confused............thank you!

[JER]

I have a 7 year-old mare who was an ET foal. I also have two non-ET offspring out of the same mare.

My ET mare is by no means 'weak'! She's an outstanding young event horse who had progressed very successfully in the sport. (She did her first Novice HT in Aug 08; just last week, I sent in for her FEI passport as she's getting ready for her first CCI*.)

I'm planning to make some full siblings to her next year via ET as the mother mare is now 20.

[sniplover]

Juniormom, I think your question needs it own threads. Are you really talking about *egg* retrieval or do you mean they're trying to flush an embryo for ET?