The present invention provides data to demonstrate that the fusion performance of a cell-line in procedures involving fusion and cleavage indices either alone or in combination are a means for selecting a cell lines that will be successful in a nuclear transfer or microinjection program. This technique and method of selecting a cell line offers an additional alternative and improvement in the creation of activated and fused nuclear transfer-capable embryos for the production of live offspring in various mammalian non-human species including goats, pigs, rodents, primates, rabbits and cattle.