Sustainable Livestock Solutions

by Sara Kober

Each year on Earth Day, we’re reminded of the responsibility we all share to take care of the planet. In agriculture—particularly the livestock industry—that responsibility can feel daunting as producers work to feed a growing global population while reducing their environmental impact.

At Trans Ova Genetics, we believe sustainability and innovation go hand-in-hand. By providing advanced reproductive technologies, we help beef and dairy producers achieve greater efficiency, healthier animals, and stronger genetic progress—all of which support a more sustainable agricultural system.

Here’s how our services contribute to sustainability efforts across the beef and dairy industries, and how technologies like cloning are helping create a greener future.

Beef Industry: Greater Genetic Value, Less Environmental Impact

The environmental footprint of beef production is often under scrutiny, but what if we could improve performance without increasing herd size?

Using In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer, beef producers can multiply their most elite genetics to create uniform, fast-growing calves that require fewer resources.

• According to the USDA, feed accounts for 50–70% of a beef producer’s variable costs. Improving feed efficiency through genetics can significantly reduce input costs and environmental pressure.
• Studies have shown that genetic selection can improve feed efficiency by 15–25%, meaning cattle consume less feed for the same weight gain.
• Fewer animals needed to produce the same amount of beef translates to lower methane emissions, reduced water use, and less land needed for feed crops.

At Trans Ova, we’re helping producers create more from less—without compromising quality or sustainability.

Dairy Industry: Faster Progress, Healthier Herds, Cleaner Footprint

In the dairy industry, the pressure to produce more milk with fewer cows has never been higher. Our suite of reproductive services allows producers to do just that.

By combining sexed semen with IVF and embryo transfer, dairies can create more replacements from their most productive animals—leading to faster genetic progress and more efficient milk production.

• Research from the University of Wisconsin shows that dairy herds using IVF and sexed semen can produce 7–10% more female replacements per year.
• Genetically superior cows tend to have higher milk yields, longer productive lifespans, and lower rates of illness, reducing the need for antibiotics and veterinary interventions.
• According to the FAO, milk production efficiency has improved by over 20% in the last 15 years, largely thanks to better genetics and herd management.

By prioritizing sustainability in breeding decisions, today’s dairy producers are reducing their carbon footprint while enhancing productivity.

Advanced Technologies: Cloning and Genetic Preservation

Cloning is one of the most misunderstood—but also one of the most promising—technologies when it comes to sustainability in livestock.

Through cloning, we can preserve and replicate animals that already demonstrate exceptional traits—whether that’s feed efficiency, heat tolerance, disease resistance, or reproductive performance.

• A cloned calf is a genetic match to its donor, meaning producers can extend the influence of a single animal far beyond its natural reproductive lifespan.
• This helps maintain biodiversity by preserving rare or valuable genetics and reduces the time and resources spent identifying and developing elite animals.
• In conservation efforts, cloning can even help restore lost genetics or support breeds at risk of extinction.

While not used in every operation, cloning is an advanced tool that plays a growing role in sustainability by ensuring the best genetics remain part of our herds for generations.

Global Impact: Exporting Genetics to Feed a Growing World

Sustainability isn’t just about protecting natural resources—it’s also about creating equitable access to food, nutrition, and opportunity. One of the most powerful ways Trans Ova contributes to global sustainability is through the export of embryos to countries with limited agricultural resources.

By creating embryos from the world’s top-performing animals, we help deliver high-quality genetics to regions that need them most.

• Embryos can be shipped around the world, allowing producers in developing countries to leapfrog years of genetic progress without the need to import live animals—saving on transportation costs, reducing biosecurity risks, and minimizing environmental stress.
• Improved genetics lead to healthier, more productive animals that are better suited to local environments and can produce more meat or milk with fewer inputs.
• According to the FAO, nearly 9.2% of the global population is undernourished. Increasing animal protein availability through better genetics is one step toward reducing food insecurity in vulnerable regions.
• By enabling the global distribution of elite embryos, Trans Ova supports a more sustainable and food-secure world—one where innovation helps feed not only today’s population, but tomorrow’s as well.

Looking Ahead: Sustainability as a Shared Commitment

At Trans Ova Genetics, we see every embryo, calf, and donor cow as part of a larger picture—one where genetic progress and environmental responsibility are connected. The tools we provide help producers:

• Increase productivity without expanding herd size
• Improve animal health and longevity
• Reduce feed, water, and land use
• Lower emissions per pound of meat or gallon of milk

This Earth Day, we’re proud to stand alongside livestock producers who are choosing innovation to build a better future. Together, we’re proving that with the right tools and the right mindset, sustainability isn’t just possible—it’s already happening.