OPU & ICSI

WestVETS offers world-class OPU (Ovum Pick-Up) and ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) services as part of our advanced equine reproduction program, providing breeding opportunities for mares and stallions with unique or challenging fertility circumstances.

OPU and ICSI are cutting-edge techniques that allow for the collection and fertilisation of a mare’s oocytes (eggs) in situations where traditional breeding methods may not be viable. This is particularly valuable for:

  • Mares unable to carry a pregnancy
  • Performance mares still in competition
  • Older mares with declining fertility
  • Stallions with limited or valuable semen

During the OPU process, oocytes are harvested from the mare's ovaries via ultrasound-guided aspiration while she is under sedation. These oocytes are then shipped to a specialised laboratory for ICSI, where a single sperm is injected directly into each mature oocyte. Resulting embryos are cultured and frozen, ready for transfer into a suitable recipient mare.

At WestVETS, we work closely with industry-leading laboratories and maintain a high standard of care to maximise success rates. Our team has extensive experience managing donor and recipient mares throughout the process, ensuring optimal outcomes for both horses and owners.

Why choose OPU and ICSI at WestVETS?

  • Access to elite genetics without interrupting a mare’s performance career
  • Ability to produce multiple embryos from a single mare across a season
  • Preservation of genetics from subfertile mares or stallions
  • Expertise in donor mare management and post-procedure care

To discuss whether OPU and ICSI is suitable for your mare, contact our Equine Reproduction team today.

A needle placed within a follicle to scrape and suction out the oocyte
A sperm being injected into a matured oocyte
Westvets Brisbane Veterinary Care
Locations
Anstead Small Animal and Equine Hospital
Cnr Mt Crosby and Hawkesbury Rds
Anstead, Queensland 4070, Australia
Anstead Small Animal and Equine Hospital
Cnr Mt Crosby and Hawkesbury Rds
Anstead, Queensland 4070, Australia
© Copyright – WestVETS – Brisbane Vet
Web Design
by Redfox
×