Learn to flush, freeze and transfer embryos in your own herd.
For over 35 years we have taught bovine reproduction to cattle producers, ranchers, show cattle owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Every course is hands-on and live-animal, with small classes and enough repetition to build real confidence.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to take our courses
It is the question we are asked more than any other, and the answer is no. Our courses are open to anyone 18 or older. Most of our students are cattle producers, ranchers and show cattle owners who arrived with no background in embryo transfer and went home able to do the work on their own cattle.
The only universal requirement. No degree, no licence, no letter from anyone.
Students in a class, depending on the course. You are not watching from the back.
Years of teaching this, in the facility Dr. Peter Elsden built for the purpose.
Students trained here since the school opened.
Which course is right for you
All five run year-round at various dates. Prices are per person and include your manuals and materials. A deposit holds your seat; the balance is due 30 days before the course starts.
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Bovine Artificial Insemination
Where to start if you have never bred a cow yourself.
- Length
- 1.5 days · 12 hours
- Held over
- 2 days
- Tuition
- $950
- Deposit
- $500
- Class size
- 9 students
Reproductive anatomy, palpation, semen handling and thawing, estrus detection, synchronisation protocols and getting the AI gun through the cervix. Taught in the classroom, then practised at the chutes on live cattle.
No prior experience required.
This course is where most people start — no prior experience, nothing but the willingness to learn. Most of our AI students are cattle ranchers and producers who want to breed their own herds rather than hire it done. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians attend too.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to take this course
Our courses are open to anyone 18 or older — no veterinary degree required.
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Combined Artificial Insemination & Embryo Transfer
The whole skill, back to back, for someone starting from nothing.
- Length
- 6.5 days · 65 hours
- Tuition
- $3,850
- Deposit
- $1,500
- Class size
- 9 students
The first two days are artificial insemination, semen handling, synchronisation and palpation. From day three you build straight on to embryo transfer — flushing, searching, grading, freezing, thawing and transfer — and keep practising AI all week.
No prior experience required.
This is the one to take if you are starting with no experience at all. Most of the students who take it are cattle ranchers and producers doing it in one trip rather than coming back twice — and in some states they can go on to offer the work as a service, though the rules vary so check yours. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians come to add embryo transfer to their practice, and can earn 50 hours of RACE-approved continuing education credit on the Bovine Embryo Transfer portion of this course.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to take this course
Our courses are open to anyone 18 or older — no veterinary degree required.
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Comprehensive Bovine Embryo Transfer
For breeders and vets who can already breed a cow and want the rest.
- Length
- 4.5 days · 50 hours
- Tuition
- $3,650
- Deposit
- $1,500
- Class size
- 9 students
Palpation and CL identification, flush catheter placement, donor flushing, embryo searching and grading, freezing and thawing, and transfer into recipients — the whole conventional protocol on commercial-standard equipment, with freshly superovulated cows to practise on.
You need to be competent at bovine artificial insemination before this course. If you are not yet, take the Combined course instead.
RACE-approved for 50 hours of continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.Most of the students that attend this course are cattle ranchers and producers learning to flush and transfer in their own herds — and in some states, to offer it as a service, though the rules vary so check yours. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians come to add embryo transfer to their practice, and can earn 50 hours of RACE-approved continuing education credit on it.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to take this course
Our courses are open to anyone 18 or older — no veterinary degree required.
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Thawing & Transferring Frozen Bovine Embryos
Short and specific: putting bought or stored embryos into your own recipients.
- Length
- 1.5 days · 12 hours
- Tuition
- $1,550
- Deposit
- $1,000
- Class size
- 9 students
Receiving, thawing and handling frozen embryos, then the live-animal work — palpation, CL identification, epidurals and transfer into synchronised recipients. The step most producers actually need.
You need to be competent at bovine artificial insemination before this course.
The Comprehensive Embryo Transfer course already covers everything taught here, so you do not need both.
This is our shortest course, and it is designed for cattle producers who buy embryos and want to put them in their own recipients. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians attend too.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to take this course
Our courses are open to anyone 18 or older — no veterinary degree required.
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Bovine Ovum Pick Up
Our most advanced course, and the smallest class we run.
- Length
- 2.5 days · 20 hours
- Tuition
- $4,350
- Deposit
- $1,500
- Class size
- 4 students
Ultrasound-guided ovary mapping, oocyte aspiration, identification and handling, and preparing oocytes for the IVF lab — plus how OPU fits into donor management and scheduling.
You need experience in palpation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer — our Embryo Transfer course covers the last of those.
You may bring a technician for $1,150 to learn the laboratory side; they attend the classroom and lab but not the arm work. In many states OPU must be performed by a licensed veterinarian or under veterinary supervision — check your own.
OPU is the most advanced training we offer and it attracts mostly veterinarians adding OPU to their practice, but we have never asked what is on anyone’s wall — we ask what they can do. If you are experienced in palpation, AI and embryo transfer, you are ready for this course whether you hold a degree or not.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian to take this course
Our courses are open to anyone 18 or older — no veterinary degree required.
What a week here is actually like
How a day runs depends on the course. The AI course opens with a half day in the classroom; the Comprehensive Embryo Transfer course spends the whole of day one there. After that you are at the chutes and in the lab every day, with the classroom sessions getting shorter as the week goes on. Nobody spends the week watching.
- A manual written for the course, yours to take home
- Classroom teaching on the physiology behind each technique
- The bulk of every course is live-animal work at the chutes
- Freezing, thawing and laboratory equipment you will actually use
- Donor flushing, palpation and transfer, with enough repetition to build real confidence
- Small classes — nine students, or four on the OPU course
Lunch is an open campus — students usually drive into town together. Bring clothing you can work cattle in; we can lend you boots.
The school Dr. Elsden built
Our school was established by Dr. Peter Elsden, one of the pioneers who developed non-surgical embryo transfer in cattle. He spent years travelling the world teaching the technique, and eventually decided it would be better to build somewhere people could come and learn it properly — a facility with the equipment, the working space and the cattle to do it safely.
That is the place you come to. His son Jason runs it now, and the teaching has been going for more than 35 years.
We are 35 miles from Memphis International Airport, which is about a 45-minute drive. Most students fly in, rent a vehicle and stay in Senatobia, ten minutes from the classroom. Where to stay lists every hotel, the bed and breakfast, the rooms across the street and the RV park, with drive times and phone numbers.
What students say when they get home
100% recommend taking the Comprehensive Bovine Embryo Transfer Course! Learned how to flush, ET, search and grade embryos, and much more. Had an amazing experience learning under Dale Whittaker who made the course fun and interactive and taught me so much! Will use these skills for the rest of my career in the industry!
Madeleine Schoderbekvia Google
IETS provides an opportunity second to none! Attended the Comprehensive AI/ET course. Extremely experienced and knowledgeable instructor. I attended a different AI school years ago. But still learned a lot from this one that I had forgotten, and tips I had never heard.
Bradley Pilesvia Google
I attended the comprehensive embryo transfer course, it was amazing! Very hands-on. Dale gives tips for application and plenty of time allowed to go through the protocols. I feel confident I can take what I learned and apply it the second I get home! Super grateful to have found this school.
Amber Hubbellvia Google
I recently took the combined AI & ET course at ET School, and it was a fantastic experience. Dale, our instructor, was outstanding—he was supportive, patient, and really made sure each student was learning at their own pace. Huge thanks to Jason for continuing to offer such valuable courses. I highly recommend it!
Nina Maddoxvia Google
Had a great experience! Instructors are very attentive and thorough. Plenty of time to ask questions and each student to focus on their individual needs.
Rosa DePriestvia Google
The Thawing and Implanting Bovine Embryos course was fantastic. There was a large amount of time to practice on animals after learning the theory in the classroom. I would recommend to anyone interested in this area!
Casey Sparksvia Google
This course was awesome! The instructors and everyone were welcoming. This course provided excellent teaching in practical skills and knowledge essential to embryo transfer. Highly recommend!!
Cache Schillervia Google
Everyone here is very knowledgeable and experienced. They were able to fit alot of information and resources in a short about of time and everything be quality. This is the only place i would recommend for embro transfer traning.
Austin Kinkeadvia Google
More on our testimonials page, Facebook and Google reviews.
Still deciding which course?
Call the office on 662-562-0304, 8 to 5 Monday through Friday, or email info@etschool.com. Tell us what cattle you run and what you are trying to do with them, and we will tell you which course fits.