Brazil: Heifers from the MT Government's embryo transfer project produce up to 200% more liters of milk than the state average

The State Dairy Herd Genetic Improvement – Embryo Transfer project, by the Government of Mato Grosso, is beginning to show positive results in Pontes e Lacerda. Half-blood Girolando heifers, which were born through the project, are producing milk up to 200% above the state average in their first pregnancy, confirming the importance of genetic improvement for the development of the dairy chain in the state. Carried out with investments from the State Secretariat for Family Agriculture (Seaf), the project is in partnership with the Mato Grosso Company for Research, Assistance and Rural Extension (Empaer) and the City Hall of Pontes e Lacerda. Jonas de Carvalho, a rural entrepreneur in Pontes e Lacerda, says that, on his property, five calves were born from the embryos transferred in 2022, when the project began in the municipality. They recently gave birth at approximately 22 months of age, which he describes as “surprising”. According to the producer, each heifer in the project ...