Evogene is proud to offer full-service equine OPU-ICSI (Ovum Pick-Up + Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) performed by our experienced in-house team. With a strong foundation in bovine IVF and a state-of-the-art laboratory, we now bring the same level of scientific precision and care to elite equine reproduction.
Whether your mare is in peak competition, experiencing fertility challenges, or carrying rare bloodlines, Evogene’s OPU-ICSI service offers a flexible, high-performance solution tailored to your goals.
OPU-ICSI is the most advanced technique available for equine in vitro embryo production.
This minimally invasive technique is suitable for most mares year-round, including those with reproductive limitations, pregnant or demanding performance schedules.
Equine OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) is a modern reproductive technique used to collect unfertilised eggs (oocytes) directly from a mare’s ovaries. Using an ultrasound-guided needle, follicles are carefully aspirated in a minimally invasive procedure.
Once collected, the oocytes are sent to the laboratory where they can be:
Mares aged 5–15 years tend to yield the best ICSI results. Mares under 5 years of age and mares over 15 years of age can still produce embryos but it is often with reduced efficiency. We recommend donor mares to be in good general health, good body condition score and have already undertaken a reproductive examination with a skilled veterinarian to assess their suitability as an ICSI donor.
(Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is an advanced reproductive technique used to fertilise mature oocytes (MII’s) in the laboratory. Following careful semen preparation—where sperm are selected for motility, morphology, and quality—a single sperm is carefully injected directly into the egg using a micromanipulator under a microscope.
Your mare is sedated, (may undergo an epidural) and then restrained in an equine breeding crush to be cleaned and prepared for the OPU procedure. A transvaginal ultrasound is used to assess follicles on your mare’s ovaries and using a needle guide, ovarian follicles are aspirated and flushed to retrieve oocytes. The procedure typically takes 60 minutes per mare. Donor mares are routinely treated with anti-inflammatory/ pain relief medication and antibiotics. Following the procedure, follicular fluid is carefully filtered and searched, oocytes are washed and transported back to the Evogene laboratory.
The frequency of OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) depends on the mare’s health, ovarian status, and reproductive goals, but many mares can safely undergo OPU every 2–3 weeks.
