Iowa State University’s animal science and veterinary researchers had the goal of providing Kosovo, a small nation in eastern Europe, with better genetics for milk production.

Curtis Youngs, a professor of animal science, Marianna Jahnke, a lecturer in veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, and James West, a retired ISU veterinary clinician, worked with Behlul Behluli, a veterinarian at the University of Prishtina in Kosovo to meet this goal.

ISU researchers selected a heifer (a female cow that has not yet given birth) from the Iowa State University dairy farm for her high genetic potential for milk production. Jahnke and West administered compounds to regulate the reproductive process of the heifer, and the heifer was inseminated at the correct time.

The embryos were then washed and frozen at a negative 320 degrees. The use of frozen embryos helped make meeting their goal possible by avoiding the cost of sending live animals across the globe.

After receiving all the proper import and export permits, the embryos went to Kosovo, where Behluli thawed them and implanted them in surrogate female cows. Although bovine embryo transfer is a common method of accelerating the breeding of cows with desirable genetics, developing countries such as Kosovo lack proper equipment and expertise and cannot use this technique.

On July 6, these ISU researchers proved that bovine embryo transfer in developing countries is possible when the first calf developed from a frozen embryo was born in Kosovo.

“With better quality genetics, Kosovo dairy farmers can obtain more milk from their cows.” Youngs said. “This will lessen the need to import milk and milk products from other countries, keeping more money in Kosovo for its economic development.”

This project has resulted in six more pregnancies and the calves should be born in the next few months. This will not only improve dairy production and food security for Kosovo, but will help solidify Iowa State’s bond with an international university.