New Year, New Genetics:
Why January Is the Best Time to Plan Your ET Program
January is one of the few times in the cattle business when things slow down enough to think ahead instead of just keeping up. Fall work is behind you, spring calving has not yet started, and breeding season still feels a long way off. That breathing room is exactly why January is the most important month of the year for planning an embryo transfer (ET) program.
Embryo transfer often gets reduced to what happens on one or two days in the chute, flushing donors, transferring embryos, and calling pregnancies. While those days matter, they only go well if the work leading up to them was done correctly. The success of an ET program is determined months before embryos are ever transferred, and January provides the opportunity to make those decisions carefully, without the pressure of an approaching deadline.
If ET is something you plan to incorporate this year, or if you want to expand beyond what you have done in the past, January is when the foundation needs to be set.
Start With a Clear Purpose for Using ET:Before selecting donors or ordering embryos, it is important to decide what embryo transfer is meant to accomplish in your herd. ET is not a shortcut and using it without a clear purpose often leads to frustration.
Common reasons producers use ET include:
- Increasing the number of replacement females from proven genetic lines
- Advancing carcass or maternal traits more quickly
- Producing seedstock or show prospects
- Preserving genetics from older or injured females
Whatever the goal, it should be specific and measurable. “Improve genetics” is vague. “Produce ten replacement females from a cow that has stayed sound and productive for ten years” gives direction and helps guide decisions that follow.
Select Donors Early and Be Honest About Them:January is the best time to evaluate donor candidates because there is no pressure to force cows into a role they are not suited for. Walking through the herd in winter allows producers to evaluate cows based on long-term performance rather than convenience.
Strong donor candidates typically have:
- A consistent fertility record
- Structural soundness
- A body condition score that will be 5.5 to 6 by breeding
- A production history that aligns with your ET goal
If a cow has struggled to breed back, maintain condition, or stay sound, she is unlikely to perform well as a donor, regardless of pedigree. January is when those decisions can be made honestly with enough time for redirection.
For producers purchasing embryos instead of flushing donors, winter is also the time to review sire information, contact embryo suppliers, and secure embryos before availability becomes limited later in the spring.
Inventory Recipients Now, Not When You’re Short on Time:Recipients are often the most overlooked part of an ET program, even though they play arguably the most crucial role in success of the program. January is the time to physically inventory recipients and decide whether current numbers and quality match your plan.
As a general guideline, plan to have 2 recipients for each embryo. This compensates for recipient’s that failed to synchronize and allows the producer to be selective on transfer day if needed. Recipient evaluation in January should focus on:
- Age and reproductive history
- Body condition heading into breeding
- Overall health and consistency
If additional recipients are needed, sourcing them in winter allows time for proper management rather than relying on last-minute solutions. Make sure any out-sourced females are on farm at least 60 days prior to the day of ET. This allots time for quarantine, feed adjustments, and mixing in with the herd.
Make Nutrition and Herd Health Adjustments Early:Body condition score cannot be fixed quickly, and January is the time to make nutritional adjustments to achieve the desired result at breeding. Donors and recipients should be evaluated separately, as their nutritional needs may differ. Heifers, first-calf heifers, and cows should all be managed on a different nutritional plane to hit a target body condition score of 5 at breeding.
Winter is an ideal time to:
- Improve body condition gradually if cattle are thin
- Review mineral programs with reproduction in mind
- Address parasite control and vaccination schedules
- Set cattle up for consistency heading into synchronization
These slow, steady changes are far more effective than trying to correct problems close to breeding season.
Decide How Much ET You Can Realistically Manage:One of the most common mistakes producers make with ET is trying to do too much in a single year. January is when you should decide how much ET fits your labor, facilities, and time.
If you are new to ET or still refining your program, it is often best to:
- Start with one donor or a smaller number of embryos
- Focus on quality of work rather than volume
- Build confidence before expanding the program
A smaller, well-managed ET program is almost always more successful than a large, rushed one.
Use Winter to Build Skills or Line Up Help:January is also the best time to decide how ET will be performed. Whether you plan to perform ET yourself or work with a technician, winter planning gives you more control.
If performing ET independently, winter training allows time to:
- Build palpation and embryo technician skills
- Learn protocols thoroughly rather than memorizing steps
- Make mistakes in a low-pressure environment
If working with a technician, winter is the time to discuss schedules, protocols, and expectations so everyone is prepared well before breeding season begins.
Order Supplies and Check Facilities Before the Rush:Synchronization drugs, artificial insemination (AI) supplies, and ET equipment are easier to order and organize in January than during the spring rush. Cattle working facilities should also be evaluated early to avoid surprises.
Use winter months to:
- Review and order synchronization drugs
- Check chute setups, lighting, and working areas
- Ensure cattle handling allows calm, efficient movement
Problems discovered in January can be easily addressed. Problems discovered during breeding season often leads to frustration, increased labor, and limits success.
Why January Planning Makes the Difference:When ET programs struggle, it is rarely because of one bad day in the chute. Most issues can be traced back to rushed planning, unrealistic expectations, or inadequate preparation.
January planning leads to:
- Better donor selection
- Healthier recipients
- Smoother synchronization
- Less stress on cattle and people
- More consistent outcomes
Embryo transfer is an investment in the long-term genetic direction of the herd. January offers producers the opportunity to decide how ET fits into their operation instead of trying to force it in later.
The calves born next year will reflect the decisions made this winter. Taking the time now to plan carefully is one of the best investments a producer can make in the future of their herd.
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