For embryo recovery to be successful it is recommended that the potential donor cow be.

• At least 90 days fresh,
• in a gaining plane of nutrition, and
• checked by a vet and given a clean bill of health.
  

After these criteria have been met and when a natural heat is observed on the donor, call NorthStar (800.631.3510). NorthStar will schedule the donor for recovery, starting  the program some where between day 8 and day 13 after the observed heat. Prior to starting the donor on shots she should be checked by a vet between day 6 and day 8 for a good corpus luteum (CL).

NorthStar sends the producer a shot schedule and the producer administers shots over a four and one half day period. On the morning of the sixth day the donor should be in a superovulated heat. She should be bred that night and given a shot of GnRH and then bred again the next morning. If she is still showing signs of heat at the second breeding she should then be bred a third time that evening. If there are any deviations from the schedule or the donor does not show a good standing heat at the proper time, call NorthStar.

Recovery Process:
Seven days after onset of superovulated heat NorthStar staff will recover the embryos. The donor needs to be confined for this procedure (head chute, or tied in a comfort stall). The actual recovery takes about 45 minutes. Finding the embryos in the solution is the next step and this requires a clean, warm room with an electrical outlet. This procedure, which uses a microscope takes about 1 1/2 hours. At this point the embryos can be directly transferred into recipients, or be prepared for freezing and frozen at the farm.