Selecting and Managing Donor Cattle for IVP

🎙️Presented by Nbryo – Powering Reproductive Progress

In this episode of Leading the Herd, host Rebecca Arnott takes a deep dive into one of the most important pillars of a successful IVP (in vitro production) program: donor selection and management. Building on last week’s discussion around key on-farm success factors, this episode unpacks how to choose the right donor cows and heifers—not just based on EBVs, but through a strategic lens of reproductive fitness, health, and performance data.

From the ideal age and physiology of donors to nutritionalprep, synchronisation protocols, and managing oocyte recovery cycles, Rebecca shares practical tips and expert insights to help you boost embryo quality, conception rates, and ROI.

Whether you’re new to IVP or fine-tuning your currentprogram, this episode is packed with info to help you get more Grade 1 embryos and healthier calves on the ground.

🔍 Topics include:

• Genetic vs. physiological traits in donor selection
• Managing pregnant donors and cows post-calving
• Nutrition, trace elements & pasture risks
• When and how to use synchrony programs
• Why not all high-EBV donors make great IVP cows; and
• Ongoing donor management between cycles

Thanks to Nbryo for supporting this series. If you’d like tolearn more or get started with your first IVP program, get in touch via nbryo.com.

📢 Share this episode, leave a review, and let’s lead the herd—together.