Introduction into equine embryotransfer

Teilnehmerkreis: Tierärzt:innen, vet.-med. Studierende

Zeitraum: 26.02.2026 18:30 - 01.03.2026 - 18:45

Referenten:

Dr. Michaela Kölling (Partner veterinary Practise Gestüt Buchenhof GmbH, CEO Verart GmbH)

Dr. Denis Necchi (Dipl. ECAR, Keros ET)

Dr. Elina Tsopp (Estonian University of Life Sciences, Chair of Animal Breeding and Biotechnology; Innovumlab Equine Biotechnology center, founder and managing director)

Zusatzinformationen:

Includes 3 nights (26.02.26 - 01.03.2026) accommodation, breakfast, lunches, coffee breaks, dinner, printed course material.

Travel:Tartu airport: Finnair has two daily services from Helsinki.         

Inbound:	AY1045 00:10 - 01:00 AY1047 13:25 - 14:15
Outbond:	AY1046 06:00 - 06:55 AY1048 14:40 - 15:35

Tallinn airport: all major European cities are served. It is approximately a 2.5-hour drive by car to Tartu. Additionally, there is a direct coach service from the airport to Tartu by Lux express hourly (costs 10 Euro)

Teilnahmegebühr: 1590 €

excl. VAT.

10 % early bird discount until 31 December 2025. 

Tagungsort: Hotel Vspaa, Riia, 51004, Tartu, Estonia,

Programm 26.02.2026 18:30 - 22:00

from 18:30 Registration and welcome reception with Estonian beer tasting and Estonian specialties (finger food)

Thereafter, an informal get-together at the restaurant

Programm 27.02.2026 08:30 - 22:00

08:30 Opening remarks

08:45 History and future of equine embryo transfer (conventional flush, IVP, IVF, cloning)

10:00 From insemination, fertilization, to the blastocyst stage. Early embryonic development.What is the best stage to flush and transfer? How to improve embryo quality and viability

11:00 Coffee break

11:30 Management of the donor mare

12:00 Flushing the donor mare

12:30 Lunch break  (Buffet menu with vegetarian option)

13:30 Delayed embryonic development

13:45 Embryo handling, packaging, shipping, and washing preparation for direct transfer.

14:15 Embryo evaluation

14:45 Embryo cryopreservation. Slow freezing vs vitrification. Handling and thawing of frozen embryos

15:30 Coffee break

16:00 Management of the recipient mare (examination, color doppler, etc.)

16:30 Transferring fresh embryos, conventional vs Whilsher

17:00 Monitoring the (successfully implanted) recipient: Twins, triplets, etc.)

17:45 Q&A

18:00 End of day one. Possibility to take a walk in the city, chat with colleagues, or use the Spa facilities (not included in the registration fee)

20:00 Dinner buffet at the hotel

Programm 28.02.2026 08:30 - 19:00

7 - 8:30 Breakfast at the hotel

08:30 Factors affecting recovery and pregnancy rates in the Equine Embryo Transfer Program

09:30 Clinical success of transfer of frozen-thawed IVP embryos: How does it compare?

10:00 ARTs in equine. Challenges, advantages, and restrictions. What is possible? What about animal welfare? How does it impact the genetic variation of certain breeds?

11:00 Coffee break  

11:30 Pre-implantation genetic testing of equine embryos

12:00 Collapsing embryos

12:30 Protocols for using subfertile stallions: sperm selection, single-dose straws for successful inseminations/transfers.

13:00 Regulations on equine germplasm shipments

13:20 How to successfully implement equine embryo transfer into your practice.

13:45 Lunch break

15:00 Start of practical wet labs (dividing delegates into 2 groups

wet lab No 1: Materials and Methods used for ET, different gear, Microscopes, Instruments, automatic freezers, vitrification consumables, etc. wet lab No 2: case discussion on uterine conformation of mares, embryo quality, etc.

16:30 changing groups

18:00 transfer to the equine lab to visit the facility with emphasis on regulations, set up, etc.

19:30 transfer to the hotel

20:00 Dinner at the hotel 

Programm 01.03.2026 08:00 - 18:45

07:00 - 08:00	Breakfast buffet at the hotel
08:00	Transfer to clinic
08:15	3 parallel wetlabs (participants divided into 3 groups) wet lab 3: transfering embryos wet lab 4: flushing mares wet lab 5: embryo handling, searching, preparation, packaging for shipping or direct transfer
09:45	same as above with rotated groups
11:15	same as above with rotated groups
12:45	Lunch break
14:00	3 parallel wetlabs (participants divided into 3 groups) wet lab 6 slow freezing embryos and thawing slow frozen embryos wet lab 7 vitrifying embryos and warming wet lab 8 post mortem oocyte recovery
15:30	same as above
17:00	same as above
18:30	Final discussion.
18:45	End of course
20:00	For those participants staying one more night, dinner (on your expenses) or just use the SPA facilities at the hotel after the return :-)

Anmeldung:

As usual the registration fee includes  3 nights 3 lunches, 2 dinners, all coffee breaks, and printed course material. You can book additional accommodation at the venue hotel for a reduced fee through us

Teilnehmerbegrenzung: 30 Personen

Homepage: events.veticon.eu/index.php/upcomming-events/equine/equine-embryo-transfer

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