Reproductive technologies including embryo transfer, IVF, and cloning raise welfare questions for both donor and recipient animals in cattle production.
Reproductive technologies in cattle raise complex welfare questions that go beyond the welfare of individual animals to questions about the broader implications of intensive genetic multiplication. The welfare of donor cows undergoing superovulation, recipient cows carrying potentially compromised pregnancies, and offspring with large offspring syndrome all require consideration. Technologies that reduce the need for invasive superovulation (such as OPU-IVF) represent a welfare improvement over MOET. The welfare framework for evaluating reproductive technologies should assess all individuals affected and require that welfare costs are justified by clear benefits.