158 Optimal time of AI and changes in vaginal mucus characteristics relative to the onset of standing oestrus in Beetal goats

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
A. Murtaza ◽  
M. Irfan-ur-Rehman Khan ◽  
M. Abbas ◽  
W. Ahmad ◽  
M. Z. Tahir ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine the optimum time of AI and its relationship with vaginal mucus characteristics relative to the onset of standing oestrus in Beetal goats. For this purpose, goats (n=257) were synchronised for oestrus by administering two doses of prostaglandin F2α (0.075mg intramuscularly, d+ cloprostenol, Dalmazin) 11 days apart during the breeding season (September-December, 2016-2018). The onset of standing oestrus was determined using apronised bucks. Intracervical inseminations were performed at 0 (n=28), 12 (n=84), 24 (n=101), and 36h (n=44) after the onset of standing oestrus using chilled semen (diluted in skim milk at 200×106 spermatozoa per 0.5-mL dose). Color (transparent=1, turbid=2, cheesy/whitish=3), consistency (thin=1, thick=2), and volume (excess=1, scant=2) of the vaginal mucus in goats were observed at the time of inseminations and graded to determine the cumulative mucus score. Resistive index of vaginal mucus (R-value) was monitored at the time of AI using a Draminski heat detector. The intervals to the onset of oestrus among different months of synchronisation, cumulative mucus score, and vaginal electrical resistance at different times of AI were compared using one-way analysis of variance. Pregnancy rates at different times of AI were compared using chi-square analysis, and the Pearson coefficient of correlation was used to correlate mucus color, consistency, and volume with the cumulative mucus score. Following the second prostaglandin F2α administration, the interval to the onset of standing oestrus was longer (P<0.05) in goats synchronised in December than in those synchronised from September to November. The pregnancy rate was lower (P<0.05) in goats inseminated at 0h (28.6%) compared with those inseminated at 12 (58.3%), 24 (56.4%), and 36h (54.5%). However, the pregnancy rates were similar in goats inseminated at 12, 24, and 36h (P>0.05). Odds for pregnancy rate at 12h were 3.5, 1.08, and 1.16 times higher than those at 0, 24, and 36h, respectively. Relative to the time of AI, the cumulative mucus scores varied (P<0.05), and changes in mucus colour and consistency were more highly correlated (r=0.832 and 0.793, respectively; P<0.05) with cumulative mucus score than the mucus volume (r=0.588). Relative to the onset of standing oestrus, the R-value of the mucus was lower at 12h than at 0 and 36h (P<0.05); however, there was no change in R-value of the mucus at 12 and 24h. In conclusion, the optimum time to inseminate Beetal does using chilled semen is 12h following the onset of oestrus, whereas cumulative mucus score and R-value can be used as alternatives if the time of the onset of oestrus is not known.

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Aoyagi ◽  
A. Ideta ◽  
M. Matsui ◽  
K. Hayama ◽  
M. Urakawa ◽  
...  

Successful bovine embryo transfer requires synchronization of luteolysis, estrus and ovulation. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of a PRID, PGF2� and eCG, on estrus synchronization and pregnancy rate in recipient heifers. A PRID� (ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was inserted into the vagina at random days of the estrous cycle for 7 (n = 35) or 9 (n = 43) days. Two days before removal of the PRID, the heifers were injected with PGF2� IM (2 mL Resipron�-C containing 0.25 mg mL-1 cloprostenol; ASKA). About half of the heifers in each group received 250 IU eCG IM (Serotropin�; ASKA) at the time of PRID removal. Blood was collected several times from the start of treatment for 7 (n = 9) or 9 (n = 9) days and on the day of embryo transfer by jugular venipuncture; plasma was immediately separated and stored at -20�C until assayed for plasma concentrations of estradiol-17α (E2) and progesterone (P4). The E2 and P4 determinations were performed by enzyme immunoassay after extraction by diethyl ether. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography on Day 30 (Day 0 = estrus). The rates of successful standing estrus (no. in estrus/PRID inserted), embryo transfer (no. transferred/estrus), and pregnancy (no. pregnancy/transferred) were compared between groups. Data were analyzed by chi-square analysis or Fisher's PLSD test following ANOVA. Injection of eCG at the time of PRID removal had no significant effect on the rates of successful standing estrus, embryo transfer, or pregnancy (P > 0.05). The proportion of heifers treated for 9 days that exhibited standing estrus (93%, 40/43) was significantly higher than the proportion of heifers treated for 7 days that exhibited standing estrus (66%, 23/35, P < 0.01). Of the heifers that were treated for 9 days, the proportion of heifers exhibiting standing estrus within 2 days after the end of treatment was significantly higher (93%, 37/40) than for heifers that were treated for 7 days (65%, 15/23; P < 0.01). Pregnancy rates of heifers treated for 9 days (84%, 32/38) and 7 days (81%, 17/21) were not significantly different. The E2 : P4 ratio normally increases during follicle growth and CL regression. The plasma E2 : P4 ratio between the time of injection of PGF2α and the time of PRID removal was significantly higher for heifers that were treated for 9 days than it was for heifers that were treated for 7 days (P < 0.01). These results suggest that a combination of PRID treatment for 9 days and injection of PGF2α 2 days before PRID removal successfully synchronized estrus in recipient heifers and led to high pregnancy rates following embryo transfer.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Y. S. Park ◽  
Y. G. Cho ◽  
K. H. Cho ◽  
G. J. Cho

Research in the area of equine artificial insemination (AI) has led to its increased application in field trials (Loomis and Graham, 2008). However, procedures for equine semen collection, cooling and freezing of semen and artificial insemination need further improvement. This study examined the effect of semen preparation and ovulation on equine AI success. Stallion semen was collected via artificial vagina, diluted with skim-milk extender, and preserved by either cooling to 4°C or cryopreservation and storage in liquid nitrogen. Mares were examined by ultrasound for follicle development with every 12 h during oestrus. During AI, semen was inserted into uterine horn adjacent to the ovulating follicle sized over 4 cm and irregular shape. In experiment 1, mares were inseminated with either cooled, cooled-transported, or frozen–thawed semen. Cooled semen was used immediately after collection and cooling. Cooled-transported semen was used 4 h after semen collection and dilution. Semen freezing procedure was followed by Moore et al. (2006). In experiment 2, we examined the effect of buffer (skim-milk extender), which was infused into the uterus at the time of AI with frozen–thawed semen. In experiment 3, we compared AI pregnancy rates for mares ovulating spontaneously v. after treatment with hCG. Pregnancy data were analysed Chi square test where P-values < 0.05 were considered significantly different. In experiment 1, the pregnancy rates after AI using cooled, cooled-transported, and frozen–thawed semen were 60 (10/6), 50 (8/4), and 37.5% (8/3), respectively, and similar among treatments. In experiment 2, the pregnancy rate of mares infused with buffer at AI was 37.5% (8/3) which was higher than that with no buffer (0%; 6/0). In experiment 3, the pregnancy rates of mares were similar between ovulated spontaneously (25%; 8/2) and ovulated with hCG (50%; 8/4). The results suggest that equine semen that has been cooled, cooled and transported or frozen can be successfully used to establish AI pregnancy. Also, the pregnancy rates after AI can be increased by infusing buffer into the uterus at AI or by inducing ovulation with hCG. These experiments resulted in the first foal produced in Korea with frozen–thawed equine semen. This research was supported by Technology Development Program for Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Schenk ◽  
G. E. Seidel

The objective of this field trial was to compare pregnancy rates in Angus heifers time-inseminated with sexed sperm 55–56 h or 67–68 h after CIDR removal and administration of 25 mg prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). Timed insemination eliminates labor costs associated with visual detection of estrus. Anecdotally, use of sexed sperm in commercial timed insemination environments has resulted in reduced pregnancy rates compared to rates for visually observed estrus. However, the optimal fixed time of insemination for sexed sperm has not been studied previously. Sperm were stained at 200 � 106 sperm mL–1 with 49 µm Hoechst 33342 for 45 min at 34.5�C and then diluted to 100 � 106 sperm mL–1 for sorting. Sperm were sexed by flow cytometry/cell sorting at 40 psi using a quasi-cw (pulsed; Vanguard 350-HDM, Spectra-Physics, Mountain View, CA, USA) laser operating at 125 mW, resulting in >91% X-chromosome-bearing sperm. Sorted sperm(2 � 106 total) were packaged into 0.25-mL straws at 10 � 106 sperm mL–1 and cryopreserved. Straws contained >43% progressively motile sperm immediately after thawing for 30 s in a 37�C water bath, as determined by 'track' motility. Angus heifers (n = 67) were synchronized for estrus with IM administration of 100 µg gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and a CIDR in place for 7 days, followed by 25 mg PGF2α IM. Heifers were inseminated in the uterine body either 55–56 h (the timing currently recommended for unsexed semen) or 67–68 h after CIDR removal, accompanied by 100 µg GnRH IM, balanced across two inseminators with sperm from two Angus bulls. Estrus was visually detected three times daily but not used as the basis for insemination. Two months post-insemination, pregnancywas determined using ultrasound. Datawere subjected to chi-square analysis. Pregnancy rates for heifers inseminated 55–56 h and 67–68 h after CIDR removal were 34% (n = 11/32) and 46% (n = 16/35), respectively (P > 0.1). Estrus was visually detected for 85% (n = 57/67) of the heifers. Four heifers not detected in estrus became pregnant (40%). Respective pregnancy rates resulting from inseminations 0–12 h and 18–24 h after observed onset of estrus were 25% (7/28) and 55% (16/29), respectively (P < 0.05). Based on the limited scope of this preliminary field trial, insemination of heifers with sexed sperm at 67–68 h post-CIDR removal may be preferable to insemination at 55–56 h. It appears to be best to wait 18 to 24 h post-onset of observed estrus to inseminate heifers with sexed sperm when not using fixed-time insemination procedures. A larger field trial is warranted to more accurately identify the optimal fixed time for insemination using sexed sperm.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
J. K. Jeong ◽  
H. G. Kang ◽  
I. H. Kim

This study compared pregnancy rates following 2 timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols using PGF2α + oestradiol or PGF2α + oestradiol + GnRH in dairy cows. Four hundred fifty-five Holstein dairy cows, 2.2 ± 0.1 in parity, 148.3 ± 3.6 days in milk, with corpus luteum of greater than 20 mm diameter confirmed by ultrasonography (Tringa Linear with 5.0 MHz array transducer; Esaote Pie Medical, Maastricht, the Netherlands) were randomly divided into two treatments: an injection of 500 μg of cloprostenol, PGF2α analogue (Iliren cycle BP®, Intervet International GmbH, Unterschleissheim, Germany) and an injection of 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate (EB, SY Esrone, Samyang, Seoul, Korea) 36 h later (PGF2α + EB group, n = 257), or an injection of 500 μg of cloprostenol, an injection of 2 mg of EB 36 h later and an additional injection of 100 μg of gonadorelin, GnRH analogue (Godorel, Uni-Biotech Co., Ltd., Korea) 24 h later (PGF2α + EB + GnRH group, n = 198). All cows in the two groups received TAI 24 h after the EB injection. Pregnancy was determined at 40 to 50 days after TAI by using both ultrasonography and rectal palpation. Pregnancy rates between the PGF2α + EB and PGF2α + EB + GnRH groups were compared by the chi-square test using the SAS program (version 9.1: SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Pregnancy rate following TAI did not differ between the PGF2α + EB (32.7%) and PGF2α + EB + GnRH groups (34.9%; P > 0.05). In conclusion, addition of GnRH for TAI protocol using PGF2α + oestradiol did not improve pregnancy rate in dairy cows.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
G. Gamarra Lazo ◽  
D. Di Scala ◽  
S. Maunas ◽  
R. Chaubet ◽  
S. Lacaze

We previously demonstrated the success of in vitro embryo production (IVP) in Lidia breed cattle (Gamarra Lazo et al. 2017 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 30, 187). As in other species, the success of IVP is linked to the birth of calves from this technique. In the Lidia breed, an important factor to consider is the use of Lidia recipients in order to keep the temperament characteristic of this breed to next generations. The aim of the study was to produce ovum pickup (OPU)-IVP calves in the Lidia breed and to assess the effects of recipient and embryo related factors (status of the recipients; development stage of IVF embryos) on pregnancy rate following embryo transfer. Ovum pickup-IVP embryos from Lidia breeds were produced by a standard protocol (Gamarra Lazo et al. 2017 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 30, 187). Numbers of blastocysts and expanded blastocysts were recorded on Day 7. A total of 27 blastocysts (B) and 34 expanded blastocysts (EB) of excellent quality (grade 1 according to IETS classification) were selected for fresh transfer. All embryos were transferred to Lidia breed recipients (heifers or cows) by a single operator under similar environmental and field conditions. Recipients were synchronized by subcutaneous insertion of an ear implant of 3.3mg of Norgestomet (Crestar®, MSD, Courbevoie, France) for 9 days. Two days before implant withdrawal, 0.5mg of Cloprostenol (Estrumate®, MSD) was injected. No oestrous detection was performed and synchronized females were selected as recipients when they presented a well developed corpus luteum at Day 9 after implant withdrawal (Day 6 to 7 after the expected oestrus). Blood samples were collected from recipients to determine pregnancy status using the bovine pregnancy associated glycoprotein (Idexx, Westbrook, ME, USA) 50-60 days after transfer. Pregnancy rates were analysed by chi-square analysis to compare results between heifers and cows and between B and EB embryo stages. The overall pregnancy rate after transfer of IVP fresh embryos from Lidia breed averaged 41.0% (n=25). A higher pregnancy rate was achieved in cows compared to heifers [51.2% (21/41) v. 20.0% (4/20) respectively, P&lt;0.05]. There was no difference in pregnancy rate between grade 1B [37% (10/27)] and EB [44.1% (15/34)] embryos (P&gt;0.05). Surprisingly, these results suggest that Lidia breed cows are the best recipients for OPU-IVP embryos. This may be related to the limited feasibility of manipulating the uterine horn during the embryo transfer in Lidia breed heifers, which have a low weight (less than 280kg) and present a narrow rectum diameter. It has been also observed that the cervix is very thin and difficult to cross, thus increasing the stress and potentially inflammatory and immune products secretion. Development stage of embryos did not affect pregnancy rate. To our knowledge, no OPU-IVP Lidia breed calves have been reported previously following transfer into Lidia breed recipients. In the current work, 13 OPU-IVP Lidia breed calves were born. Therefore, we confirmed the possibility of applying OPU-IVP and embryo transfer techniques in this breed within a genetic program.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 281-282
Author(s):  
Nicole N Noga ◽  
Jeremy G Powell ◽  
Brittni P Littlejohn ◽  
Whitney L Rook ◽  
Martin Mussard ◽  
...  

Abstract Preliminary data indicate that shortening the progesterone exposure with CIDR can improve conception rates compared to the established 7-day CO-Synch protocols. The objective was to determine the effects of shortening progesterone exposure from 7 days to 6 days among crossbred beef cows and fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) with sex-sorted semen. A total of 147 fall calving (September-November) crossbred beef cows from one location were randomized to one of four treatments: 1 and 4) 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol with administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and a CIDR insert on day 0, prostaglandin F2α (PGF) at CIDR removal on day 7, and FTAI occurring 66 h (Treatment 1) or 74 h (Treatment 4) later; 2 and 3) 6-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol with administration of GnRH and CIDR insert on day 0, prostaglandin F2α (PGF) at CIDR removal on day 6, and FTAI occurring 72 h (Treatment 2) or 80 h (Treatment 3) later. Sex-sorted semen from Angus sires was used for AI. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasound 40 days after AI. Pregnancy rate was analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with CIDR and AI service time as fixed effects. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the number of pregnant and open cows in each treatment using the FREQ procedure of SAS. There was no difference (P = 0.78) in pregnancy rates between 6-d CIDR (0.59 ± 0.05%) and 7 d CIDR (0.57 ± 0.05%) protocols. Cattle bred a shorter period after CIDR removal (0.64 ± 0.05%) had numerically (P = 0.11) greater pregnancy rates compared to those with a longer period after CIDR removal (0.51 ± 0.05%). There was no difference in the number of pregnant and open cows between treatment groups. These data suggest that using a 6-day or 7-day protocol, regardless of breeding time, results in similar conception rates.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
J. K. Jeong ◽  
H. G. Kang ◽  
I. H. Kim

This study determined the effect of supplementation with oestradiol or oestradiol plus GnRH after PGF2α administration on pregnancy rates after timed artificial insemination (TAI) in dairy cows. Three hundred and six Holstein dairy cows with corpus luteum confirmed by ultrasonography (Tringa Linear with 5.0 MHz array transducer; Esaote Pie Medical, Maastricht, the Netherlands) were randomly allocated to three treatments: a single injection of 500 μg of cloprostenol, PGF2α analogue (Estrumate, Schering-Plough Animal Health, Friesoythe, Germany; PGF2α group, n = 115) designated as 0 h, an injection of 500 μg of cloprostenol and an injection of 1 mg of oestradiol benzoate (EB, SY Esrone; Samyang, Seoul, Korea) 56 h later (PGF2α + EB group, n = 114), or the same treatment as in the PGF2α + EB group and an additional injection of 100 μg of gonadorelin, GnRH analogue (Godorel, Uni-Biotech Co., Ltd., Korea) 24 h later (PGF2α + EB + GnRH group, n = 77). All cows in each group received TAI 80 h after the PGF2α injection. Pregnancy was determined at 40 to 50 days after TAI by using both ultrasonography and rectal palpation. Pregnancy rate among groups were compared by the chi-square test using the SAS program (version 9.1: SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Pregnancy rate following TAI were higher (P < 0.05) in the PGF2α + EB + GnRH group (34/77, 44.2%) than in the PGF2α group (31/115, 27.0%), with the PGF2α + EB group intermediate (39/114, 34.2%). In conclusion, the supplementation with oestradiol plus GnRH after PGF2α administration improved pregnancy rate after TAI in dairy cows. This work was supported by the research grant of the Chungbuk National University in 2011.


2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 2182-2186
Author(s):  
Cristiane Reinher ◽  
Júlio Otávio Jardim Barcellos ◽  
Vanessa Peripolli ◽  
Ênio Rosa Prates ◽  
Maria Eugênia Andrighetto Canozzi

It was evaluated in this work the effect of calving sub-season on the pregnancy rate of 7,726 multiparous Hereford beef cows grazing on natural pastures in southern Brazil, from 1994 to 2007. Calving sub-season periods were divided in 20-day intervals from August 12th to 31st; from September 1st to 20th; from September 21st to October 10th; from October 11th to 31st; from November 1st to 20th. Calving in each sub-season and pregnancy rate (PR) were analyzed by the Chi-square test. Overall means of each sub-season were 92.7% (from August 12th to 31st), 90.6% (from September 1st to 20th), 82.1% (from September 21st to October 10th), 77.7% (from October 11th to 31st), and 70.6% (from November 1st to 20th). Calving sub-season significantly influenced pregnancy rate. Cows which calved in the initial sub-season showed higher pregnancy rates than cows which calved from the fourth calving sub-season. However this difference did not occur in 1999 and in 2007 since calving rates did not statistically differ among the five sub-seasons. In 1998 and 2004, calving rates were lower and the effects of calving sub-season on pregnancy rates were higher, possibly due to climate variations. In general, pregnancy rate decreases as calving occurs later in the year, particularly in years when the weather adversely affects pasture growth.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Can Demir ◽  
Cihan Kaçar ◽  
Umut Çağın Arı ◽  
Semra Kaya ◽  
Oğuz Merhan ◽  
...  

Abstract The present study aimed to determine the effects of progesterone-based gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) injections on progesterone profiles and pregnancy rates in cows with no estrus symptoms within 60 days after parturition. A total of 80 cows were included in the study. All animals had the progesterone-releasing device PRID®Delta placed intravaginally for nine days with an injection of GnRH. On the eighth day, PGF2α was injected, and PRID®Delta was removed from the vagina on day nine. Artificial insemination was carried out 60 hours after PRID®Delta removal. In half of the animals (n = 40), 600 IU of eCG was injected when PRID®Delta was removed on the ninth day before artificial insemination 60 hours later. Blood samples were taken from the tail vein on days 0 and 8 to determine progesterone levels. The pregnancy rate in the group that received eCG was 37.5%, while it was 27.5% in those that did not (P = 0.4). While the dominant follicle diameter was 15.5 mm in cows injected with eCG during timed artificial insemination, the follicle diameter was 12.4 mm in cows with no eCG injection (P <0.001). There were no differences in serum progesterone values in blood samples taken until the time of artificial insemination. However, progesterone values in the blood taken during artificial insemination were 0.94 ng/ml in the eCG- group and 0.72 ng/ml in the eCG+ group (P <0.05). As a result, it was determined that eCG injections, in addition to progesterone-based GnRH and PGF2α applications, increased the pregnancy rates in cows without symptoms of estrus. The dominant follicle diameter was larger in cows treated with eCG during artificial insemination; however, follicle size did not increase the pregnancy rate.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
C. Ponsart ◽  
H. Quinton ◽  
A. Rohou ◽  
J. Kelhembo ◽  
G. Bourgoin ◽  
...  

Previous studies have shown that the time between flushing and freezing of bovine embryos can influence pregnancy rates (PRs) following embryo transfer (ET). The aim of this study was to determine which time components can influence ET results. Time components between flushing of a superovulated donor and freezing of the collected embryos were investigated under field conditions. Embryos were frozen in 1.5 M ethylene glycol (EG) for direct transfer. During January 2003, ET technicians (EmbryoTop, Rennes cedex, France) recorded systematically times corresponding to each step comprising the time spent in vitro (TIV) from 153 recovery sessions (RS) with freezing: end of flushing, beginning and end of search of embryos, start of equilibration in EG, beginning and end of straw loading, introduction to −7°C in the freezer, and seeding. Numbers of donor cows and ET technicians doing the freezing (n = 5) were noted for each RS. Embryo (stage, quality) and recipient (breed, parity) characteristics were also noted. A total of 548 frozen embryos were transferred and PRs were assessed. Variability of time components was investigated (Bourgoin et al. 2004 Reprod. Fertil. Dev. 16, 207). The influence of time components and other variation factors was tested on PRs (t-tests and chi-square analysis). The TIV averaged 210 ± 80 min and did not influence PR (≤4 h = 51.9% (n = 393) vs. >4 h = 55.5% (n = 155); P > 0.05), as well as duration of flushing (32 ± 8 min), interval between end of flushing and search (31 ± 27 min), duration of search (45 ± 25 min) and interval between end of search and beginning of freezing (101 ± 63 min). Only significant factors were kept for further analysis. The effects of recipient parity, number of donor cows per RS, and interval between introduction of straw to −7°C, and seeding were tested in a multivariate logistic model. PR varied strongly with parity of recipient (+25% in heifers vs. cows; P = 0.001). PRs were higher when the interval between straw introduction in the freezer and seeding lasted at least 5 min (2–4 min = 48.0% (n = 254) vs. 5–8 min = 57.1% (n = 294); P = 0.009). Time and operator effects were confounded. Overall PR results for the two technicians who used mostly 2–4 min intervals averaged 47% (operator values = 35.6, 48.9, and 54.5) whereas PRs were 54.9 and 60.5% for those waiting 5 min or more before inducing seeding (n = 2). PRs were higher when at least two donor cows were collected per RS (1 donor cow = 49% (n = 259) vs. ≥2 donor cows = 56.4% (n = 289); P = 0.003). This was not in agreement with previous observations in fresh embryos (Bourgoin et al. 2004). However, the number of donor cows strongly influenced the number of viable embryos per RS (1 donor cow = 11 ± 5 vs. ≥2 donor cows = 18 ± 8.5; P < 0.05) and could permit the choice of more embryos to be frozen. These results show that good PR may be achieved with a delay of several hours between flushing and freezing, when heifers are used as recipients. Moreover, confirmed from higher numbers of operators, these data show that it is better to wait at least 5 min to achieve equilibration of the embryo before seeding.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document