Now for A Little Science (If you are squimish this may not be the blog post for you)

 I had the great privilege this past year to witness something amazing in the field of agriculture. Dr. Ilena offered for me to come visit her while harvesting ewe eggs for in-vitro-fertilization. This is a task that is taken on mostly by purebred breeders due to the cost of the procedure and it is easy when preferred rams are over seas. Do you do any in-vitro work on your farm? with cows or horses or goats maybe? I was able to see how to harvest eggs. See the eggs are harvested, then fertilized with semen from the desired ram, then put into the ewes for the lambs to grow. To harvest the eggs there are many steps. First the ewes go throw a number of fertility treatments to ensure that the eggs are the healthiest and it will be the perfect time to harvest. Then they are given a relaxing drug to make sure they don't go through any stress that may kill the eggs in the procedure. The first step of the harvest is to give the ewe anesthesia so they won't feel any pain. They are quickly shaved of their hair on the lower side of their abdomen. Some antiseptic is put on the site where the incision will be and then a little cut. through this cut goes a laparoscope that will help to find the uterus and bring it to the outer side of the body. This is what I think is REALLY cool. The uterus is brought out of the body through the incision. OUTSIDE OF THE BODY!! HOW COOL IS THAT! sorry I get excited with science. then a small hole is made in the uteron horn the pointy long parts off the sides of the uterus. through this hole a small tube will flush some saline solution through the passage ways to another incision were a petri dish catches the fluid that is now carrying the eggs. All the incision are sewn up and the outer site is again washed with an antibacterial. they ewe is then pulled off of the anesthesia and monitored for the next few weeks to make sure they don't get an infection even though the whole procedure is kept clean and sterile. The solution is put under a microscope and all the debris is taken out of the solution and the eggs are put into another special dish that will soon be put with the semen and fertilized. I just really think this stuff is cool. And the amazing part?? The same procedure can be done on humans!!!
Have you ever done this with your flock or herd? Have you had good success?? Do you think this is as cool as I do???