Trans Ova Genetics: Harvesting genetics of Western cattle

“We provide a very tiny service to help feed people,” says director and staff veterinarian Dr. Chuck Gue at Trans Ova Genetics. The Montana clinic near Belgrade was established in 1996, and provides a highly skilled, well-organized cattle replication service, harvesting the genetics of cattle in Montana and other Western states for use by livestock producers in the United States and overseas.

By Pat Hansen
for inBusiness The Montana Standard

Trans Ova Genetics, with headquarters in Sioux Center, Iowa is a division of Pro Edge LP. It began in 1980 as a division of a growing veterinary practice in northwest Iowa, and now has three clinics in Iowa, Missouri and Montana, as well as day centers in Illinois and Oklahoma.

Following graduation from the University of Missouri Dr. Gue worked in a mixed animal practice for three years before joining Trans Ova Genetics in August 1990. As a staff veterinarian in embryo transfer services he worked in the clinic and traveled extensively with the embryo transfer and support group serving clients from Minnesota to Oklahoma.

“Early in the 1990s I began working with Montana clients from the base in Iowa,” he said. “As the demand increased, it seemed prudent to develop a clinic in this region, and we began looking for the opportunity.”

Twelve years earlier Gene and Marion Todd, Bozeman area producers, had developed the clinic site as an embryo transplant center in partnership with a local veterinarian. Dr. Gue describes the Todds as extremely intelligent, progressive ranchers who took a lot of pride in what they had accomplished.

With their family grown and termination of the partnership, the Todds contacted Trans Ova Genetics and invited them to consider this location for the company’s embryo transfer business.

Embryo transfer started in the 1970s when producers began to introduce Continental breeds into the U.S. – Simmental, Limousin, etc. Importing cattle is extremely expensive, and producers needed to find a way to replicate the breeds more rapidly to recoup that money. To date, seedstock (registered) producers have made the most use of the technology.

The clinic, located at the foot of the rugged Bridger Mountains, is occupied year round with cattle replication. Off season they collect donor females and cryo-preserve embryos for use during the breeding season. It costs producers approximately $150 to produce one packaged frozen embryo. Cows will average six frozen embryos every 40 days in the clinic, and they stay there for 6-12 months.

Congress placed a moratorium on cloning in the nation and Trans Ova Genetics is abiding by that request and is not performing cloning procedures. Following a completed study by the National Academy of Sciences, the FDA is scheduled in June to render a final decision as it relates to the use of cloning in domestic animal species.

During the breeding season – April 1-July 15 and again the end of November to January 20 – there is a lot of activity at the clinic as both frozen and fresh embryos are used to impregnate recipient cows. Frozen embryos are shipped to producers throughout the world in dry containers cooled with liquid nitrogen to –196 degrees C.

The clinic serves all breeds of cattle although some breeds are more prevalent. From 75-225 donor cows are housed in the clinic at any given time. Donor females are owned by seedstock producers who have selected the animals for embryo production to provide genetic advancement for commercial stockmen in this nation and around the world. The sale of bred recipient cows has become a large part of the clinic’s service.

They purchase 300-600 recipient cows from area commercial producers, implant embryos, and once an ultrasound confirms pregnancy they are sold to the original embryo owner.

In addition to Dr. Gue, there are 10-13 other employees at the clinic.

“A business like ours provides alternatives for people who come from family farms and ranches,” he said.

“We provide a place to stay involved in production and learn new things before going back to the family farm or ranch.”

The staff includes two licensed embryo transfer technicians who perform collection, transfers and related services; three-four embryologists who find, evaluate and process the microscopic embryos in a manner that will maximize survivability and result in a viable calf; and four-five herdsmen who care for the donor and recipient cows on site.

“We get some of the best young people off Montana ranches,” Dr. Gue stated proudly.

“Most are graduates of a four-year program at MSU, with degrees in Animal Science or Range Science. Our business is specialized, and provides an outlet for them to work in animal production. It is helpful to have young people who already have ag experience because they understand the customer. They also provide a network of good people with the background we desire.”

Often he hires husband and wife teams knowing they will return to the family farm or ranch in three to five years.

It costs a little bit more money to have that frequent of turn-over, he admitted. But once they understand the business and are tuned into the system they are valuable employees. Dr. Gue appreciates the loyalty of his employees who understand the importance of the work. Rather than a two-week notice, they often tell him six to eight months in advance of leaving.

Genetics developed by generations of cattlemen in Montana are the product that Trans Ova Genetics, as a professional service provider, harvests and packages. Montana genetics are shipped internationally. Until December 2001 South America – especially Brazil and Argentina – was the largest importer of genetics from Montana.

In recent months Dr. Gue has seen some decline in customer base at the clinic because of the drought, economy and industry changes. “Historically we’ve seen dispersals all the time,” he observed. “It will be interesting to see if replacements will occur with new entrepreneurs or as an increase in the size of existing seedstock producers.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Gue expects the size of his staff to increase as the company provides more services to more people. “We do not intend to sit still, but will grow with application of newer technologies in other areas – possibly the dairy female industry.”

As the company becomes involved with the new technologies they are able to provide services to accommodate industry changes and producers who strive to raise more efficient animals that result in the best food product

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