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Genetics weaning. Identifying embryos that do not meet the criteria before they are transferred dramatically reduces that investment. Also, embryos from the same flush or IVF cycle produce calves that perform very differently. In fact, if you have seen many flush mates in a contemporary group, you will know that there can be quite a bit of variation in phenotype and performance. Combining these modern technologies can reduce the resources needed to produce a calf crop with genetic value well beyond the average incremental advance of using 20 | DECEMBER 2018 - JANUARY 2019 them separately. Or, looking at the same scenario from the other direction, more calves that meet specific genetic criteria can be produced on a limited amount of resources by using these technologies together. How does this relatively new approach to advancing the genetic capabilities of seedstock affect commercial cow-calf producers and the rest of the beef production chain? Since embryo transfer has not been adopted in commercial production at a significant rate, the impact might simply be through the availability of better bulls from seedstock herds a couple of steps downstream from the cattlemen using this approach. But, the case could also be made for targeted use of this method in large commercial herds to produce custom- made F1 replacement females. Regardless of where market forces take this approach, knowing about how genetics are being advanced more rapidly at the top of the hill will let you see the snowball coming so you can decide to either be part of it or, at least, not get buried by it. I