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“A single elite donor cow can produce up to 15 calves a year through embryo transfer, compared to just one through traditional breeding. This fast-tracks the genetic improvement of herds and enhances national livestock productivity”
*Dr. Adelaja Adesina, (Ph.D.) A Trailblazer in Nigerian Agribusiness
PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | APRIL 29, 2025
In a groundbreaking development for Nigeria’s livestock sector, Sila Green Agro, in collaboration with their Brazilian technical partners, recently carried out the first-ever successful embryo transfer in cattle at A & A Harmony Farms, located in Okun-Owa, Ogun State.
This milestone marks a significant leap toward revolutionizing beef and dairy cattle production in the country and sets a new standard for livestock biotechnology in West Africa.
As Nigeria seeks to enhance its food systems and boost animal productivity, the adoption of advanced cattle breeding technologies like embryo transfer (ET) is fast becoming a necessity. With this historic achievement, the door is now open for livestock farmers and agribusiness investors to tap into a new era of high-yielding, disease-resistant, and climate-resilient cattle breeds.
What Is Embryo Transfer in Cattle?
Embryo transfer is a modern reproductive technique used to multiply the offspring of genetically superior cows. The process involves transferring fertilized embryos from a high-quality donor cow into several recipient cows, which act as surrogate mothers.
Here’s how it works:
* Donor Cow Selection
A top-performing cow is selected for her superior genetic traits—such as milk yield, fertility, or beef quality.
* Superovulation Treatment
The donor cow is given hormone injections to produce multiple eggs instead of one during her heat cycle.
* Artificial Insemination (AI)
The cow is artificially inseminated with semen from a high-quality bull. The resulting embryos are allowed to develop for about 7 days.
* Embryo Collection
The developing embryos are non-surgically flushed out from the uterus and carefully screened under a microscope.
* Transfer to Recipients
Healthy embryos are then transferred into the uteri of synchronized recipient cows, which carry the pregnancy to term.
* Monitoring and Calving
The recipient cows are monitored for pregnancy success and assisted during calving, just as with natural pregnancies.
*A cattle breeding ranch at A. A. Harmony Farms
Key Benefits to Nigerian Farmers and Livestock Investors
With Sila Green Agro pioneering this process at A & A Harmony Farms, the ripple effects across the livestock value chain are enormous. Here’s how:
1. Accelerated Genetic Advancement
A single elite donor cow can produce up to 15 calves a year through embryo transfer, compared to just one through traditional breeding. This fast-tracks the genetic improvement of herds and enhances national livestock productivity.
2. Improved Milk and Beef Output
Using high-performing dairy breeds like Holstein-Friesian or beef breeds like Brahman increases the volume and quality of both milk and meat. This significantly boosts the income potential of beef and dairy cattle production enterprises.
3. Climate and Disease Resilience
Embryos from foreign breeds can be transferred into robust, locally adapted cows. The resulting calves combine superior genetics with environmental hardiness—essential for livestock farming in Africa’s tropical conditions.
4. Opportunities for Agribusiness Expansion
This breakthrough opens up agribusiness investment opportunities in embryo production, veterinary services, and export of cattle genetics. Investors can now build businesses around this reproductive technology.
5. Efficient Use of Resources
Farmers maximize the reproductive potential of top cows while using surrogate mothers that would otherwise reproduce at lower value. The result? Better returns on feed, housing, and labor investment.
6. Fertility Solutions for Valuable Cows
Older or injured cows that can no longer carry pregnancies can still be used as donors. Their genetic legacy continues without physical strain, protecting valuable animal assets.
Another breeding ranch in the farm
Why This Matters for Nigeria’s Livestock Future
Despite having over 20 million cattle, Nigeria still struggles to meet its domestic demand for beef, milk, cheese, and yoghurt. The country relies heavily on imports, while most local breeds have poor productivity due limited access to improved genetics.
Sila Green Agro’s success, supported by technical expertise from Brazil—one of the world’s top beef and dairy producers—proves that Nigeria can leapfrog into modern, profitable cattle farming through strategic partnerships and animal husbandry innovation.
Their initiative at A & A Harmony Farms sets a compelling precedent for other private farms, cooperatives, and government agencies to replicate. With proper training, funding, and extension support, embryo transfer in cattle can transform Nigeria’s livestock economy within the next decade.
A Call to Action
The first successful embryo transfer in cattle at A & A Harmony Farms is a blueprint for the future. This cutting-edge technology gives Nigerian farmers access to superior cattle breeds without the cost and risks of live animal importation. For agribusiness investors, it presents a high-return gateway to the booming livestock industry. For Nigeria, it’s a step closer to food security, economic diversification, and global competitiveness in livestock exports.
The journey has just begun. The question now is who wants to be part of this cattle biotechnology revolution?
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