Under the registration rules of Holstein Friesian NZ to register progeny from ET work, all progeny, both male and female, must be DNA parentage verified to both dam and sire.
To do this, both the donor dam and sire must be profiled first, including overseas dams and sires. It is recommended that the breeder ensures that the dam and sire have a DNA profile prior to ET work commencing. If you own the dam or the dam is in New Zealand, two samples are taken from the donor dam before ET work commences – one for testing to gain a DNA profile of her, and the second as insurance should anything happen to the original sample or the dam.
When purchasing overseas embryos, confirm with the supplier the following information:
- The dam and sire of the embryo both hold a DNA profile;
- Which laboratory/service provider holds the DNA profile data for the dam and sire;
- Which overseas laboratory can be used to verify the progeny to sire and dam.
On the sire side, take the time to check with your semen provider that any bull used for ET work has been profiled either in New Zealand or overseas. Profiling dams prior to ET work being undertaken will ensure that you are protecting your investment in your herd and ET programme.
The recipient (the cow or heifer receiving the embryo) needs to be properly recorded with your Herd Record Provider prior to the procedure. This also applies to beef animals used as recipients. Management numbers, or herd ids, are not a reliable form of identification. A birth identification number needs to be recorded as well. If a recipient only has a management number, the animal will not be able to be located in your Herd Record Provider, DIGAD or BreedIT once they are culled.
Any calves born as a result of ET work must be DNA parentage verified to their sire and dam prior to registration. Registrations of animals resulting from ET won’t be accepted, unless all previously required documentation has been correctly carried out and the Certificate of Embryo Recovery and Transplant serial number are recorded on the database. It is recommended that you collect sample from the donor dam at time of ET work being undertaken.
If your intention is to sell ET progeny in the future, don’t wait until a month out from your sale to carry out DNA parentage verification, as this may be too late to have animals officially registered with HFNZ prior to the sale. If animals are not registered prior to a sale, they cannot be published in a sale catalogue as registered and must be recorded as ‘registration pending’.
The prefix of the owner of the ET calf at the time of registration will be used when registering an animal resulting from embryo transplant, irrespective of who bred the calf or owned the donor dam. This also applies to registering ET animals resulting from imported embryos. The letters -ET will be added as a suffix to the names of calves resulting from embryo transplant.