Embryo production in Finland Embryo collections (flushing) are performed on farms and at Hollola December 2014 VikingGenetics initiated embryo flushings at Hollola A.I.Station February 2015 VikingGenetics initiated OPU-IVP in Hollola Collections on farms represent ~ 60 % of all collections in Finland Most are performed by the interest and financing of the farmer Smaller proportion: agreement with VikingGenetics, costs financed by the company

Hollola AI-ET-station

Aim of the embryo flushing program is to produce new AI-bulls and top females to speed up breeding Embryos are a fast way to improve the genetic level of cattle VG flushes only heifers, so the genetic improvement is even faster All heifers used in embryo program are genomic tested Only the top heifers of the latest sires are used Embryo production at VikingGenetics

2300 VikingRed, 2000 VikingHolstein and 300 VikingJersey heifers are genomic tested annually VikingGenetics pays testing of best red heifers Also heifers which owner has tested can be bought Genomic values are counted once a month  VG decides which heifers are bought according their genomic value, gNMT Heifers are bought at the age of 6-8 months Heifers are transported to VG´s quarantine barn at the age of 8-12 months 2-3 flushings / heifer  insemination or ET  OPU during first pregnancy months  transport back to home farm latest one month before calving Purchase of heifers

Heifers

Embryo collection in Hollola

ET-teams in Finland 4 teams in the country: VikingGenetics – station at Hollola Faba – operates on farms all over Finland Natural Resources Institute – embryo research One private company – on farms

= ET technician = ET veterinarian Faba ET-team: 6 ET-veterinarians (flushings) 62 ET-technicians (transfers) = VikingGenetics, Hollola

Embryo transfers Annually embryos are transferred (~ % frozen) 2014:3283 embryos Sexed semen is used for inseminations of ~20% of superovulated donors

Semen production Amount of bought bulls has decreased remarkably because of genomic selection A few progeny tested bulls are kept mostly for exports needs Bulls start production at the age of 10 months From the best bulls first doses are divided in all VG countries and are used for embryo flushings, then for high index females No young bulls any more  GenVik+ (GVP) Bulls are in use only for some months  new generation has higher values Sexed semen is produced in Assentoft, Denmark. Bulls are transported for sexed semen production from Finland and Sweden.

Semen collection room in Hollola

Amounts of bulls in VikingGenetics 2015: Breeding program bulls VikingRedVikingHolsteinVikingJersey Genomic tested bull calves Bought bull calves Used bull calves100 40

Transports by VG´s own truck

70 satellite herds in Finland OPU – ovum pick up on Tuesdays During first months of pregnancy Possibility to use different bulls at the same time All flushings in Hollola are made on Wednesdays Fresh embryos are implanted nearby Hollola on Wednesday For farmers living further embryos are transported overnight and implanted on Thursdays Fresh embryo network in Finland

Advantages: Embryos are 100 € cheaper for network farms Fresh embryos have better pregnancy-rate First to get new top quality bulls ET-bull calves that are selected for genomic test get 500 € (VR)/650 € (VH/VJ) testing fee Fresh embryo network in Finland

OPU

VJ Lumo ET –first Jersey-bull in Finland

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