TH Group’s embryo tech boosts dairy genetic advancement

In the context of Viet Nam’s dairy sector facing a declining herd size while still needing to meet growing production demand, the application of high technology in genetic improvement is becoming an inevitable direction.

At the first National Conference on Livestock Science, Technology and Veterinary Medicine held on March 28, Mr. Tran Trung My, QA Director of the Farm Division at TH Group, shared the results of applying the embryo technology chain (OPU - IVP - ET) in breeding high-yield dairy cattle.

According to Mr. My, Viet Nam’s dairy sector is facing a paradox: herd size is declining while requirements for both milk quantity and quality continue to rise. This creates the need to improve productivity per animal rather than expanding herd numbers.

While traditional artificial insemination has contributed to genetic improvement, its progress remains relatively slow. In contrast, the embryo technology chain is emerging as a breakthrough solution, significantly shortening the selection and breeding cycle. Globally, in vitro embryo production (IVP) has surpassed 2 million embryos, accounting for over 80% of total embryo output, reflecting a clear shift toward this technology.

In Viet Nam, TH Group is among the pioneers in implementing and mastering the embryo technology chain at an industrial scale, including ovum pick-up (OPU), in vitro fertilization (IVP), and embryo transfer (ET). Mastering the entire technology chain helps shorten the genetic improvement timeline while significantly enhancing the quality of dairy herds.

The results from 2022-2025 demonstrate the clear effectiveness of this technology. In the ovum pick-up (OPU) stage, 2025 recorded an average of 24 oocytes per cow - twice the global average - reflecting strong process control and high-level quality management. Although rapid output growth puts pressure on oocyte quality, the system has been optimized in terms of collection frequency to balance productivity and quality.

In the in vitro fertilization (IVP) stage, the fertilization rate reached nearly 89%, with an average of 1.94 blastocysts per cow, comparable to international standards. This is a key indicator of the effectiveness of culture processes and laboratory condition control.

Notably, embryo quality has remained consistently high over the years. According to the classification of the International Embryo Technology Society, the proportion of transferable embryos (Grades 1 and 2) reached 86.2%, with Grade 1 embryos consistently exceeding 50%. Meanwhile, the proportion of lower-quality embryos (Grades 3 and 4) was kept at low levels, at approximately 9.4% and 4.4%, respectively.

In the embryo transfer (ET) stage, performance has also improved significantly. The average conception rate reached around 45%, rising to nearly 49% in 2025. Notably, fresh embryos showed higher conception rates at about 48.5%, while heifers achieved over 50%, reflecting simultaneous improvements in embryo quality and technician expertise.

According to Mr. Tran Trung My, the application of the embryo technology chain not only accelerates genetic progress but also serves as a key driver for transitioning Viet Nam’s dairy sector toward intensive development, enhancing productivity per animal rather than relying on herd expansion.

“Embryo technology allows us to produce a large number of elite animals in a short time, thereby significantly shortening the breeding cycle and improving overall production efficiency,” he said.

Mastering embryo technology at an industrial scale, with performance indicators approaching international standards, also demonstrates the strong potential of Viet Nam’s livestock sector in adopting advanced biotechnologies.

As the dairy industry moves toward sustainable development goals for 2030, with a vision to 2045, embryo technology is considered one of the core solutions to enhance productivity, quality, and global competitiveness.

During the 2022-2025 period, TH Group recorded several indicators approaching international standards in the application of the embryo technology chain. A total of over 153,000 oocytes were harvested from more than 10,000 cow turns, with an average efficiency of 14.3 to 24 oocytes per head, reaching a record high in 2025. The fertilization rate reached nearly 89%, producing an average of 1.94 blastocysts per cow. Notably, high-quality embryos (Grade 1 and 2) accounted for 86.2%, while the pregnancy rate remained steady at 45-49%. These results demonstrate that the enterprise has mastered the embryo technology chain at an industrial scale, with efficiency nearing international benchmarks.