Cattle Embryo Production Scale Far Exceeds In Vivo Embryos, Surpassing 2 Million Units and a 7-Fold Difference

The total number of livestock embryos in 2024 saw a slight increase. Cattle accounted for the largest share at 94.19%; followed by sheep at 3.44%, horses at 1.66%, goats at 0.70%, and the remaining 0.1% comprising other species such as deer, buffalo, camelids, and pigs. Among these, the dominant bovine category saw an 8.1% increase in in vitro embryos (IVP) obtained through Ovum Pick-up (OPU), surpassing 2 million units for the first time. In contrast, intrauterine embryo collection (IVD) declined by 20.1% compared to 2023, now accounting for less than 13% of total bovine embryo activities. Small animal species exhibited similar trends: IVD metrics declined across the board, while IVP numbers collected via Ovum Pick-up (OPU) showed significant growth.

Behind these figures lies the mature application of Ovum Pick-up (OPU).Data indicates that both the number of countries reporting embryo exports and the total volume of livestock embryo exports showed a downward trend in 2024. However, a divergence emerged between in vitro fertilized embryos (IVD) and in vitro cultured embryos (IVP): IVD exports fell by 32.9% compared to 2023, while IVD exports increased by 7.7%. Furthermore, frozen IVD embryos are gaining broader recognition as an alternative in the international trade of bovine germplasm resources.

This technology is widely used in animal breeding, primarily through the removal of oocytes from the ovaries under ultrasound guidance. This approach enables cost reductions, efficiency gains and improved genetic quality.

The ECI-X7H Ultrasound Kit for Ovum Pick-up is an ultrasound-based in vivo oocyte retrieval device specifically engineered for Ovum Pick-up (OPU). It is specialised OPU probe, integrated with a veterinary Doppler ultrasound system, minimises animal distress through non-invasive procedures while precisely visualising oocytes via ultrasound imaging. This technology enhances production efficiency and accelerates genetic improvement processes.

The ECI-X7H Ultrasound Kit for Ovum Pick-up (OPU) is not merely a “medical technology”, but a powerful “production and breeding management tool”. It revolutionised the traditional model of disseminating superior bloodlines through natural breeding, transforming breeding efficiency from “additive” to “multiplicative”. This has become the core technology for highly efficient and precise breeding.