Embryo flushing: a sure way to accelerate genetic progress

To stay ahead of their competitors in the breeding game, livestock farmers have to continually improve the genetics of their animals. Nollie and Pieter Stofberg, owners of Platdrif Sussex Stud in the Western Cape, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how they make use of embryo flushing to achieve this goal.

- Glenneis Kriel

FAST FACTS

Embryo flushing can significantly improve the impact of top cows on a stud.

It is a highly technical and expensive breeding technique.

Embryo flushing enables farmers to produce more offspring from their top cows.

Last year, the Stofbergs, who own the Platfdrif Sussex Stud and farm near Rawsonville in the Boland, became some of the first Sussex cattle breeders in South Africa to use embryo flushing. Owner Nollie Stofberg says the family took this step in memory of his second-eldest son, David, who died in 2018 at the age of 24 following a car accident.

“Back in 1981, David’s maternal grandfather and namesake was one of the first Angus breeders in South Africa to use embryo flushing to accelerate genetic gains in his stud. As a family, we always wanted to try embryo flushing on [Platdrif], and David, with his master’s degree in animal production, was especially passionate about it,” says Nollie. His eldest son, Pieter, explains that embryo flushing is a breeding technique that entails collecting embryos from donor cows and implanting them in surrogate cows, which then carry the embryos to term.

As with any type of breeding, donor and surrogate cows have to be in good condition to ensure a positive outcome.