Embryo transfer regulations cause discussion

By Jennifer Carrico

Several Midwestern states have been discussing making changes in the regulations required to perform embryo transfer on beef animals.

The current law in several states is that a person performing embryo transfer contract work must be a veterinarian, while other states have a certification process ET technicians must go through that allows non-veterinarians to do the work.

"We want cattle producers to be able to choose an embryo transfer technician to work on their cows who has the proper experience to get the job done correctly. Certification and qualification are two different things," said Tom Shipley, director of issues management and policy implementation for the Iowa Cattlemen's Association. "We want the best person to do the work. If that isn't a veterinarian, we still want veterinary supervision."

Shipley said ICA introduced House Bill 164 during last year's legislative session in hopes of getting any confusion resolved so producers could continue to have embryo work done as they have in the past.

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