Superovulation response of Peranakan Ongole (PO) and Simmental cows after FSH stimulation in multiple ovulation and embryo transfer program

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) is a reproductive technology to increase the livestock population in a short period. The success of ovary stimulation programs is influenced by an individual’s response to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulation. In this study embryo production was carried out on local cows represented by Peranakan Ongole (PO) cows and exotic cows represented by Simmental cows. FSH stimulation was performed on 10 PO cows and 10 Simmental cows. On Day-1 Cue Mate® (progesterone) was inserted intravaginally. FSH injection (400 mg) was carried out intramuscularly from D-10 at reduced dose with 12 hours intervals (Day-10: 100 mg; Day-11: 60 mg; Day-12: 40 mg per injection). On Day-12, prostaglandin (PGF2α) was injected and Cue Mate® was removed. Artificial insemination (AI) was performed 48 hours after PGF2α injection for 3 times at 12 hours intervals. The embryo was collected 6 days after the last AI (Day-21). Superovulation response was detected on 70% of PO cows and 90% of Simmental cows. The average number of transferable embryos in Simmental cows (9.11±7.27) was higher than PO cows (7.86±7.78). This research shows that Simmental cows are more responsive to FSH stimulation, and can produce more transferable embryos than PO cows.

Superovulatory responses using pregnant mare serum gonadotropin hormone in Murrah buffalo cows

Superovulation plays an important role in embryo transfer program. A preliminary study carried out in the Research Institute for Animal Production evaluated superovulatory responses in Murrah buffalo cows using pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) hormone. The three buffalo cows were estrus synchronized using 5 ml prostaglandin (PGF) twice, with an interval of 11 days. PMSG was injected intra-muscularly 3000 IU on day-10 after estrus. Prostaglandins were administered 48 hours after PMSG injection. Fixed-Time artificial insemination (FTAI) was carried out at 72 hours after the last PGF treatment. Administration of hCG 2 ml/head was given at the time of FTAI. A non-surgery flushing was performed on day 6 after FTAI. Parameters observed using ultrasonography (USG) were diameter of follicle (DFL), total follicle (TFL), and number embryos (NE). Data were analyzed descriptively. The mean of DFL before PMSG treatment was 8.2 mm and after PMSG treatment was 12.5 mm. The mean of TFL before PMSG treatment was 7.7 and after PMSG treatment was 16.1. The NE obtained was one degenerative embryo. Superovulation using PMSG increased TCL and DFL. It can be concluded that the Murrah buffalo cows superovulated by PMSG showed a good response but no transferable embryo was found.

Gestational losses after innovating with two embryos in a fixed-time embryo transfer program

The aim of this study was to quantify the pregnancy rate after implantation of two embryos after FTET protocols, as well as to monitor pregnancy losses until parturition, evaluating, mainly, if this strategy results in more number of animals born. Therefore, 423 multiparous recipients were selected, standardized in terms of body score, who had high-quality corpora lutea. Animals were randomly divided into two groups according to one or two embryos transferred (1 embryo = Control, n = 237; 2 embryos = Group 1, n = 186). All recipients received the same hormonal treatment, which consisted of administering, on Day 0, 2 mL of estradiol benzoate (Gonadiol, ZOETIS) + 1.9 g multidose 1st use progesterone implant (CIDR, ZOETIS); on Day 8 the implants were removed + injected 0.4 mL of estradiol cypionate (E.C.P, ZOETIS) + 1.5 mL of eCG (Novormon, ZOETIS) + 1 mL of dinoprost tromethamine (Lutalyse, ZOETIS). The animals were evaluated by ultrasonography at 30 and 60 days after embryo transfer, to diagnose the success rate and embryo losses during this period. Furthermore, information was collected on births, length of gestation, number of twin births, number of childbirth assistance and the weight of the calves. The results showed that Group 1 had better success than the Control, with higher conception rates at 30 days (68.3% vs. 53.2%, P<0.001) and at 60 days (62.9% vs. 52.3%; P<0 .05). The number of animals born was also higher for Group 1 (53.3% vs. 43.3%, P<0.01). The percentage of twins born in Group 1 was 17.9%, and the animals had lower weight compared to the Control (34.29 + 7.36 vs 37.63 + 5.73, P<0.05). The length of pregnancy and the number of assistances were similar between groups. In conclusion, the strategy adopted in this experiment suggests a considerable increase in the calf birth rate, but losses during pregnancy and their mechanisms need to be elucidated.

74 Body condition of donor animal and recipients affects the outcome of embryo transfer program in dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius)

The present study was conducted in dromedary camels to evaluate the effect of the body condition of donor animals on the outcome of superstimulation and embryo collection in experiment 1 and the establishment of pregnancies in the recipients in experiment 2. The animals were physically evaluated for their body condition and scored on a scale of 0 to 5 (0 being very thin and weak, while 5 being very fat). They were divided into three groups based on their body condition score (BCS). Animals with a score of 1–2, &gt;2–3, and &gt;3–4 were divided into groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Animals with a score of &lt;1 and &gt;4 were considered either too weak or too fat and were not included in the study. In Experiment 1, 32 donors in 3 groups were superstimulated with a combination of 2500IU of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG, Folligon; Intervet), given as a single intramuscular injection on Day 1 of the treatment protocol, and 400mg of pFSH (Folltropin; Bioniche) injected twice daily in declining doses of 2×80mg, 2×60mg, 2×40mg, and 2×20mg over 4 days, also beginning on Day 1. The ovaries of all the donor camels were scanned on Day 4 after the start of treatment, and thereafter at intervals of one or two days until the majority of follicles had grown to between 1.3 and 1.8cm in diameter before mating with a fertile male. Each donor received an intramuscular injection of 20µg of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (Receptal, Intervet) immediately after mating, and embryos were collected by non-surgical method on Day 7 after ovulation. In Experiment 2, 141 recipients divided in 3 groups, as described above, were synchronized with donors and received an embryo each in their left uterine horn. The pregnancy confirmation was done by an ultrasound examination on Day 50 after transfer. Data were analysed by ANOVA with Fisher protected least significant difference test (Minitab statistical software, Minitab Ltd.). In experiment 1, the mean±s.e.m. number of follicles (13.9±1.3; 12.7±2.9; 15.0±1.7), and the percent mean±s.e.m. of embryos collected (41.5±7.7; 57.0±12.3; 60.4±7.8) were not different among groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. However, the percent mean±s.e.m. of transferrable embryos obtained were higher (P&lt;0.05) in group 3 (77.7±4.8) compared with group 1 (57.5±10.1). Similarly, in experiment 2, the percent mean±s.e.m. of pregnancies achieved in group 3 (68.9±6.4) was similar to that of group 2 (57.9±14) but higher (P&lt;0.05) than that of group 1 (50.5±10.0). In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study showing a direct correlation between the BCS and outcome of embryo transfer program in camels. Donors with a good BCS produced more transferrable embryos, and conception rates were higher in recipients having a better BCS. This clearly shows that not only is the selection of recipients critical in the embryo transfer program, but donors with a positive energy balance yield better transferrable embryos. Priming of donors before the start of the breeding season could help to improve the outcome of this technology in camels.