Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) in cattle accelerates genetic progress but involves repeated hormonal treatments and invasive procedures. Welfare standards for these technologies are developing but remain inconsistent.
Embryo transfer welfare harms are distributed across multiple points in the procedure chain. Repeated superovulation causes physical discomfort from ovarian enlargement and the behavioral signs of estrus multiple times per cycle. Transcervical catheterization without analgesia causes pain that, while brief, is measurable through stress indicators. Repeated OPU procedures for IVF have welfare implications for donor animals that are largely unregulated in most jurisdictions. Recipients that experience difficult calvings due to embryo size mismatches suffer acute welfare harm. Developing welfare standards for reproductive technologies that include pain management protocols, procedure frequency limits, and recipient welfare monitoring is an important frontier in farmed animal welfare.