Ovum Pick-Up

Advanced Reproductive Technology

Ovum Pick-Up (OPU) in cattle is an advanced reproductive technology used to collect oocytes (eggs) from the ovaries of donor cows via ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration. This minimally invasive procedure is performed by a licensed veterinarian using light sedation and a carefully administered epidural to ensure donor safety and comfort.  

Collected oocytes are transported directly to our state-of-the-art laboratory, where they are evaluated, fertilised, and cultured under optimal conditions. Resulting embryos can be transferred into synchronised recipients or cryopreserved for future use.

Why choose OPU?

Maximise genetic potential by picking up prepubertal, open, or early pregnant cows
Accelerate genetic progress by combining oocytes from elite females with semen from high quality bulls
Reduced or no hormone use with our customised Veterinary stimulation protocols to suit your cattle type, breed, and production goals.
More embryos per donor because OPU can be performed every 14 days, allowing for multiple oocyte collections each year.
Superior semen efficiency by fertilising multiple donors from a single straw of semen.
Customised mating strategies in high producing donors, to allow her eggs to be fertilised with multiple different sires from a single pick-up
All Evogene OPU procedures are performed by licensed veterinarians using sterile technique and guided ultrasound. Fertilisation and embryo development take place in a quality controlled IVF laboratory, ensuring consistency, traceability, and optimal results.

Why is OPU important?

OPU is the critical first step in advanced breeding programs—by collecting high-quality oocytes, it lays the foundation for embryo development and maximises the potential for reproductive success from the very start.

How does OPU differ from conventional flushing?

While both OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) and conventional embryo flushing are used to produce embryos from valuable donor females, the techniques are quite different.

Conventional flushing involves hormonally stimulating the donor to produce multiple embryos. These embryos are fertilised inside the uterus, then collected (flushed) about a week later.
OPU, on the other hand, collects unfertilised eggs (oocytes) directly from the ovaries using an ultrasound-guided needle. These oocytes are then matured, fertilised (IVF), and grown into embryos in the laboratory.

Key advantages of OPU over flushing:

Donors can be aspirated more frequently (every 2–3 weeks)
Can be performed on pregnant or non-cycling females
Flexibility to use frozen, sexed, or rare semen
Often higher total embryo numbers over time compared to flushing

OPU offers greater flexibility, efficiency, and genetic progress, while conventional flushing is more limited to specific timing and donor status.

Is OPU safe for my donor?

Yes. OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) is a minimally invasive procedure that has been performed safely for many years. Using ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is used to aspirate follicles directly from the ovaries, which avoids major surgery and allows for rapid recovery.

Key points about OPU safety:

Minimally invasive: No incisions, reducing risk of complications and downtime.
Routine monitoring: Ultrasound and veterinary oversight ensure the donor’s health is prioritised.
Well-tolerated: Most donors resume normal activity immediately after the procedure.
Repeatable: OPU can be safely performed multiple times on the same donor, with careful scheduling.

At Evogene, animal welfare is our top priority. Every procedure is carried out under strict veterinary supervision, ensuring the safety, comfort, and wellbeing of your donor throughout the program.

How often can OPU be performed?

OPU can be performed on a donor every two weeks.

Can we perform OPU on pregnant cows?

Yes, we can perform OPU on pregnant cows. It’s possible at any stage of pregnancy up until the point the ovaries become unreachable, which is typically around 3-5 months gestation. This depends on the size of the animal and how mobile that ovaries are.