Conventional in vitro embryo production and cryopreservation strategies applicable to livestock could benefit from further enhancement of biosecurity features. In particular, there is scope for a new generation of sequential culture media that avoid ill-defined constituents but closely match changing embryo needs. Likewise, complementary cryopreservation protocols using sealed containers would be beneficial, if they emulate or surpass existing embryo storage and subsequent survival standards. This study compared blastocyst yields from zygotes incubated in a conventional monoculture medium or in an alternative defined 2-stage sequential media system, with or without Trolox, a water-soluble antioxidant, and subsequently investigated blastocyst survival following vitrification in sealed CryoTips.