1. Embryo production in Finland Embryo collections (flushing) are performed on farms and at Hollola December 2014 VikingGenetics initiated embryo flushings at Hollola A.I.Station February 2015 VikingGenetics initiated OPU-IVP in Hollola Collections on farms represent ~ 60 % of all collections in Finland Most are performed by the interest and financing of the farmer Smaller proportion: agreement with VikingGenetics, costs financed by the company

2. Hollola AI-ET-station

3. Aim of the embryo flushing program is to produce new AI-bulls and top females to speed up breeding Embryos are a fast way to improve the genetic level of cattle VG flushes only heifers, so the genetic improvement is even faster All heifers used in embryo program are genomic tested Only the top heifers of the latest sires are used Embryo production at VikingGenetics

4. 2300 VikingRed, 2000 VikingHolstein and 300 VikingJersey heifers are genomic tested annually VikingGenetics pays testing of best red heifers Also heifers which owner has tested can be bought Genomic values are counted once a month  VG decides which heifers are bought according their genomic value, gNMT Heifers are bought at the age of 6-8 months Heifers are transported to VG´s quarantine barn at the age of 8-12 months 2-3 flushings / heifer  insemination or ET  OPU during first pregnancy months  transport back to home farm latest one month before calving Purchase of heifers

5. Heifers

6. Embryo collection in Hollola

8. ET-teams in Finland 4 teams in the country: VikingGenetics – station at Hollola Faba – operates on farms all over Finland Natural Resources Institute – embryo research One private company – on farms

9. = ET technician = ET veterinarian Faba ET-team: 6 ET-veterinarians (flushings) 62 ET-technicians (transfers) = VikingGenetics, Hollola

11. Embryo transfers Annually 3000-4000 embryos are transferred (~ 70-80 % frozen) 2014:3283 embryos Sexed semen is used for inseminations of ~20% of superovulated donors

12. Semen production Amount of bought bulls has decreased remarkably because of genomic selection A few progeny tested bulls are kept mostly for exports needs Bulls start production at the age of 10 months From the best bulls first doses are divided in all VG countries and are used for embryo flushings, then for high index females No young bulls any more  GenVik+ (GVP) Bulls are in use only for some months  new generation has higher values Sexed semen is produced in Assentoft, Denmark. Bulls are transported for sexed semen production from Finland and Sweden.

13. Semen collection room in Hollola

14. Amounts of bulls in VikingGenetics 2015: Breeding program 2015 - bulls VikingRedVikingHolsteinVikingJersey Genomic tested bull calves 25003000500 Bought bull calves17012575 Used bull calves100 40

15. Transports by VG´s own truck

16. 70 satellite herds in Finland OPU – ovum pick up on Tuesdays During first months of pregnancy Possibility to use different bulls at the same time All flushings in Hollola are made on Wednesdays Fresh embryos are implanted nearby Hollola on Wednesday For farmers living further embryos are transported overnight and implanted on Thursdays Fresh embryo network in Finland

17. Advantages: Embryos are 100 € cheaper for network farms Fresh embryos have better pregnancy-rate First to get new top quality bulls ET-bull calves that are selected for genomic test get 500 € (VR)/650 € (VH/VJ) testing fee Fresh embryo network in Finland

18. OPU

20. VJ Lumo ET –first Jersey-bull in Finland

21. Thank You!