Welcome to the final episode of Series 1 of Leading the Herd, proudly supported by Nbryo – global leaders in advanced assisted reproduction. In this bite-sized episode, host Rebecca Arnott walks you through exactly what to expect on OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) day – a key component at the heart of every bovine IVF program.

Whether you're new to IVP or just getting started, this episode breaks down:

• How to group and draft your donors on the day
• Who’s involved and what their roles are
• The step-by-step OPU procedure, from ultrasound to oocyte collection
• Oocytes handling and grading, and
• Transportation back to the lab.

Based on Nbryo’s proven procedures focused on efficiency, animal welfare, and optimising results, this practical guide is a must-listen for those getting ready to do their first bovine IVF program. 

Plus, Rebecca gives a sneak peek at what’s coming in Series 2—where the real magic happens in the lab.

🎧 Listen now and get OPU-ready

🐄 Follow, rate & share if you’ve enjoyed the series

💡 Contact the Nbryo team to start your own IVP journey.

In this episode of Leading the Herd, host Rebecca Arnott takes a practical deep dive into the nuts and bolts of setting up your farm for OPU (ovum pick-up) and embryo transfer.

Forget genetics and drug protocols—this is your hands-on guide to infrastructure, equipment, and facilities that make a real difference to program success. From crush setup and shade solutions to power supply and lab space requirements, Rebecca covers everything you need to know to get OPU-and ET-ready.

Whether you’re hosting a technician on-farm or running a donor centre, this episode is packed with actionable advice, checklists, and common-sense tips to help ensure smooth operations and optimal results.

📌 Download the printable checklist here and follow us on socials for setup examples🐄Please like, share, and review if you found this useful—see you next time on Leading the Herd!

Sponsored by Nbryo – Powering Reproductive Progress

In this episode, host Rebecca Arnott dives into the often-overlooked heroes of embryo transfer — recipient cows. Learn why selecting and preparing the right recipients is just as critical as managing donors, and how breed, body condition, temperament, and timing can impact the success of your program.

From breed comparisons (Angus, Wagyu, Holstein, Brahman and more) to synchronisation strategies and pre-transfer checks, Rebecca covers practical, research-backed tips to maximise conception rates and calf outcomes. Whether you're a beef or dairy producer, this episode offers fresh thinking — including the game-changing potential of “beef in dairy” IVP programs.

Key Takeaways:✅The right recipient makes the difference✅Nutrition and synchronisation are everything✅Post-transfer care matters more than you think

🎙️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.

Bovine IVP (IVF) is a game-changer for genetic improvement,but success starts on the farm. In this episode of Leading the Herd, host Rebecca Arnott breaks down the six key on-farm factors for achieving the best results from an IVP program:

• Establish Clear Breeding Objectives – Align goals with your production system and ensure your expectations are realistic.

• Semen Selection – Choose high-quality genetics and store semen correctly.

• Donor Cow Management – Prioritise reproductive health and nutrition.

• Recipient Cow Preparation – Select healthy, fertile cows and minimisestress.

• Optimise Nutrition – Ensure sufficient energy, protein, and mineralintake.

• Adequate Facilities & Equipment – the importance of a clean, well-designed setup for OPU.

Success in IVP is about getting the small detailsright—producers who do so consistently achieve the best results.

🔗 Learn more at Nbryo.com and follow us on social media. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow breeders!

#BovineIVP #GeneticImprovement #CattleBreeding#LeadingTheHerd

In this episode, we break down the key advantages anddisadvantages of In Vitro Production (IVP) vs. Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer (MOET) in cattle breeding.

IVP offers faster genetic improvement, greater flexibility, higher embryo production potential, and better semenefficiency, while MOET remains a reliable, cost-effective, and well-established method. But which one is right for you?

Join us as we explore the pros and cons of each techniqueand discuss how advancements in technology are reshaping the future of cattle breeding globally.

🎧 Tune in now and stay ahead of the herd!

In this inaugural episode of Leading the Herd, host Rebecca Arnott explains the basics of the in vitro production of bovine embryos (more commonly known as IVF) and how this differs to convention embryo transfer or MOET.

She covers much of the common terminology you'll encounter including:

• OPU (ovum pick up)
• ova and oocytes
• oocytologist
• aspiration
• in vivo vs in vitro
• MOET (multiple ovulation embryo transfer)
• the difference between IVP and IVF
• the difference between IVP and MOET

Designed for those who are interested in learning more about accelerating genetic improvement in their beef or dairy herds in short, easy to follow audio bites. More detail can be found in Nbryo's Knowledge Base articles.

7 years in 7 days in approx 7 mins!

Leading the Herd is a podcast all about innovations in bovine breeding - put simply. 

Brought to you by Nbryo, a global leader in the field of transformative reproductive technologies, this podcast is aimed at providing you with the latest information as well as practical tips, tools and insights to help accelerate genetic improvement and optimise results in your herd.

In Series 1 we provide you with an essential guide to bovine IVF – including getting started, equipment and facilities needed, best practices for success, the magic that happens in the lab and a whole lot more. Whetheryou’re an experienced breeder, new to assisted reproductive technologies or just curious to find out more, this series will serve as your blueprint for success.

Looking ahead, in Series 2 we will explore theexciting new technologies emerging in the field—not just for seedstock producers but also commercial breeders looking to accelerate genetic improvement, affordably.

In this series, Rebecca will be joined by a myriad of experts from around the world who will provide valuable insights into the latest developments in reproduction and biotechnology and how these will most likely impact the industry.

Whether it be drafting embryos in the dish, scaling your best genetics, transferring embryos yourself or taking a sneak peek into new technologies, stay tuned for in-depth discussions and innovations shaping the future of cattle breeding.