Financial study of the bovine embryos production by untrasound-guided ovumpick-up and in vitro fertilization in Wallonia (South Belgium): preliminary results

From the end of 1996, two legally authorized centres realize in vitro produ ction of bovine embryos in Wallonia. Ultrasound-guided ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilization (OPU-IVF) is mostly applied on cows from the Belgian Bl ue breed. During the first sixteen months of OPU-IVF activities (initial pe riod), the production results in each center were lower than the ones obtai ned in other laboratories using that biotechnology, the average internation al production level being of 1.30 embryos per session and per cow. Since em bryos were concomitantly sold to breeders at an incentive price, this led t o a financial deficit in each center at the end of the initial period. Howe ver, that negative situation should normally disappear within the two follo wing years, owing to the expected improvement of the technical results. To conclude, the financial balance of each center will be attained provided th at almost 10 cows may be punctured per week and also that from 0.85 to 1.25 embryos may be produced per session and per cow.