Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T12:00:00.243Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Embryo survival rate in cattle: a major limitation to the achievement of high fertility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

J.M. Sreenan ,
M.G. Diskin  and
D.G. Morris
J.M. Sreenan
Affiliation:
Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc, Athenry Research Centre, Galway, Ireland
M.G. Diskin
Affiliation:
Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc, Athenry Research Centre, Galway, Ireland
D.G. Morris
Affiliation:
Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc, Athenry Research Centre, Galway, Ireland
Get access

Abstract

Over the past 30-40 years genetic improvement and better nutrition of dairy cows have led to a significant increase in milk production per cow but this is associated with an increase in cow reproductive wastage. Reproductive wastage in the dairy herd particularly in a seasonal calving system, results in a serious financial loss. Early embryo death accounts for a significant portion of cow reproductive wastage and information is becoming available on the extent and timing of early embryo loss and on aspects of embryo growth, development, metabolism and viability. Such information is necessary to facilitate objective investigation of factors that contribute to early embryo death. For heifers and moderate yielding dairy cows published estimates of fertilisation rate of about 90%, and of average calving rates of about 55% indicate an embryonic and foetal mortality rate of about 40%. Of this total loss, 70 to 80% is sustained between days 8 and 16 after insemination, a further 10% between days 16 and 42 and a further 5-8% between day 42 and term. In high yielding cows there is some evidence of a higher increment of late embryo loss. During the period of greatest embryo loss, between days 8 and 16 after fertilisation, there is a dramatic increase in the growth rate and protein content of embryos, particularly from day 13 to day 16 when the increase is exponential. There is evidence that from day 13 to 15 cattle embryos undergo time and developmental stage-dependent changes in the rate of de-novo protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation. It seems that by the time cattle embryos have elongated they have passed their maximal synthetic activity in terms of protein synthesis and phosphorylation, which seems to occur at day 13 or earlier. While there is little published information on the causes of embryo loss it is clear that even a short-term reduction in energy intake near the time of insemination can significantly reduce embryo survival rate. Abo and low post-ovulatory systemic progesterone has been associated with increased embryo loss. Recent evidence shows that elevated systemic concentrations of ammonia and urea per se do not reduce embryo survival rate but there may be other modifying factors, such as negative energy balance, operating in the high yielding dairy cow that lead to reduced fertility when the systemic concentrations of urea and or, ammonia are high.

Type
Invited Papers
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 26 , Issue 1: Fertility in the High Producing Dairy Cow , January 2001 , pp. 93 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Ashworth, C.J. and Bazer, F.W. 1989. Changes in ovine conceptus and endometrial function following asynchronous embryo transfer or administration of progesterone. Biology of Reproduction, 40: 425–433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ashworth, C. 1991. Effect of pre-mating nutritional status and post-mating progesterone supplementation on embryo survival and conceptus growth in gilts. Animal Reproduction Science, 26: 311–321.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ashworth, J.C. 1994. Nutritional Factors related to embryonic mortality in domestic species. In: Zavy, M.T. Geisert, R.D. (Eds): Embryonic mortality in domestic species. Edited by Geisert, R.D. & Zavy, M.T. CRC Press, Florida, 179–194.Google Scholar
Ayalon, N. 1978. A review of embryonic mortality in cattle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility. 54:483–493.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ball, P.J.H. 1978. The relationship of age and stage of gestation on the incidence of embryo death in dairy cattle. Research Veterinary Science 25:120–122.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ball, P.J.H. 1997. Late embryo and early fetal mortality in the cow. Animal Breeding Abstracts 65: 167–175.Google Scholar
Bazer, F.W. 1994. New frontiers and approaches in the study of embryonic mortality in domestic species. In: Embryonic mortality in domestic species. Edited by Geisert, R.D. & Zavy, M.T. CRC Press, Florida, 195–210.Google Scholar
Bazer, F.W. 1989. Establishment of pregnancy in sheep and pigs. Reproduction Fertility Development, 1:237–272.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beam, S.W. and Butler, W.R. 1999. Effects of energy balance on follicular development and first ovulation in postpartum dairy cows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 54:411–424.Google ScholarPubMed
Betteridge, K.J. Eaglesome, N.D., Randall, G.C.B., Mitchell, D. 1980. Collection, description and transfer of embryos from cattle 10-16 days after estrus. Journal ofReproduction andFertility, 59:205–216.Google Scholar
Boyd, J., Bacsich, P., Young, A. & McCracken, J.A. 1969. Fertilisation and embryonic losses in dairy cattle. British Veterinary Journal 125: 87–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Butler, W. R. and Smith, R. D. 1989. Interrelationship between energy balance and post partum reproductive function in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 72: 767–783.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler, W.R. 1998 Review: Effect of protein nutrition on ovarian and uterine physiology in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 81:2533–2539.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Canfield, R.W., Sniffen, C.J. and Butler, W.R. 1990. Effects of excess degradable protein on postpartum reproduction and energy balance in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 73:2342–2349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Committee on Reproductive Nomenclature 1972. Recommendations for standardising bovine reproductive terms. Cornell Veterinary 62: 216–237.Google Scholar
Curran, S., Pierson, R.A. & Ginther, O.J. (1986) Ulrrsonographic appearance of the bovine conceptus from days 20 through 60. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association. 189,1295–1302.Google Scholar
Darwash, A.O., Lamming, G.E. and Woolliams, J.A. 1999. The potential for identifying heritable endocrine parameters associated with fertility in post-partum dairy cows. Animal Science, 68:333–347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dietz, R.W. and Flipse, R.J. 1969. Metabolism of bovine semen. XX. Role of ammonia in interactions between citric acid and urea cycle. Biology ofReproduction 200:Google Scholar
Diskin, M.G. & Sreenan, J. M. (1980) Fertilisation and embryonic mortality rates in cattle. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 59:463–468.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downie, J.G. and Gelman, A.L. 1976. The relationship between changes in body weight, plasma glucose and fertility in beef cows. Veterinary Record, 99: 210–212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Drew, B. 1999. Practical nutrition and management of heifers and high yielding dairy cows for optimum nutrition. Cattle Practice, 7:243–248.Google Scholar
Dunne, L.D. Diskin, M.G., Boland, M. P., O'Farrell, K.J. and Sreenan, J.M. 1999. The effects of pre-and post-insemination plane of nutrition on embryo survival in beef heifers. Animal Science, 69:411–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dunne, L.D. Diskin, M.G., Sreenan, J.M. 2000. Embryo and foetal loss in beef heifers between day 14 of gestation and full term. Animal Reproduction Science, 58:39–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dyck, G. and Strain, J. 1983. Postmating feeding level effects on conception rate and embryonic survival in gilts. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 63: 579–585.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elrod, C.C and Butler, W.R. 1993. Reduction of fertility and alteration of uterine pH in heifers fed excess ruminally degradable protein. Journal of Animal Science 71:694–701.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Elrod, C.C., Van Amburgh, M. and Butler, W.R. 1993. Alterations of pH in response to increased dietary protein in cattle are unique to the uterus. Journal of Animal Science 71:702–706.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ferguson, J.D. and Chalupa, W. 1989 Impact of protein nutrition on reproduction in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 72:746–766 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Garrett, J. E., Geisart, R. D., Zavy, M. T. and Morgan, G. L. 1988. Evidence for maternal regulation of early conceptus growth and development in beef cattle. Journal ofReproduction and Fertility 84: 437–446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Geisert, R.D. Short, E.C. & Morgan, G.L (1994) Establishment of prgnancy in domestic species. In: Embryonic mortality in domestic species. Edited by Geisert, R.D. & Zavy, M.T. CRC Press, Florida, 23–53.Google Scholar
Grealy, M. Diskin, M.G. & Sreenan, J. M. 1996. Protein content of cattle oocytes and embryos from the two cell to the elongated stage at day 16. Journal ofReproduction and Fertility 107:229–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunter, R.H.F. 1980. Physiology and technology of reproduction in female domestic animals. Academic Press Inc. (London) Ltd.Google Scholar
Jindal, R., Cosgrove, J., Aherne, F. and Foxcroft, G. 1996. Effect of nutrition on embryo mortality in gilts: Association with progesterone. Journal of Animal Science 74: 620–624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, D.A., Boland, M.P., Diskin, M.G. and Sreenan, J.M. 2000. The effect of crude protein and fermentable carbohydrate intake on blood metabolite concentrations and fertility in beef heifers. Proc BSAS Occasional Meeting “Fertility in the High-Producing Dairy Cow, Ed Diskin, M.G. Google Scholar
Kerbler, T.L., Buhr, M.M., Jordan, L.T., Leslie, K.E. and Walton, J.S. 1997. Relationship between maternal plasma progesterone concentration and interferon-tau synthesis by the conceptus in cattle. Theriogenology 47: 703–714.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Larue, L., Ohsugi, M., Hirchenhain, J. and Kemler, R. 1994. E-cadherin null mutant embryos fail to form a trophectoderm epithelium. Proc National Academy of Science, USA, 91:8263–8267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mann, G.E., Lamming, G.E., Robinson, R.S. and Wathes, D.C. 1999. The regulation of interferon production and uterine hormone receptors during early pregnancy in the cow. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Supplement 54:317–328.Google Scholar
Maurer, R.R. Chenault, J.R. 1983. Fertilisation failure and embryonic mortality in parous and nonparous cattle. Journal of Animal Science, 56:1186–1189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McEvoy, T.G., Robinson, J.J. Aitken, R.P., Findlay, P.A. and Robertson, I.S. 1997. Dietary excesses of urea influence the viability and metabolism of preimplantion sheep embryos and may affect fetal growth among survivors. Animal Reproduction Science 47:71–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morris, D.G. and Sreenan, J.M. 1998 Protein synthesis and phosphorylation by day 13 to day 15 bovine embryos. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Abstract Series 21:Abstract 47.Google Scholar
Morton, H. 1984. Early pregnancy factor (EPF): a link between fertilization and immunomodulation. Australian Journal ofBiological Sciences, 37:393–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Northey, D.L. and French, L.R. 1980. Effect of embryo removal and intra uterine infusion of embryonic homogenates on the lifespan of the bovine corpus luteum. Journal of Animal Science, 50:298–302 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Parr, R., Davis, I., Fairclough, R. and Miles, M. 1987. Overfeeding during early pregnancy reduces peripheral progesterone concentration and pregnancy rate in sheep. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 80:317–320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Peters, A. R. 1996. Embryo mortality in the cow. Animal Breeding Abstracts, 64:587–598.Google Scholar
Pursley, J. R., Wiltbank, M. C., Stevenson, J. S., Ottobre, J. S., Garverick, H. A. and Anderson, L. L. 1997. Pregnancy rates per artificial insemination for cows and heifers inseminated at a synchronized ovulation or synchronized oestrus. Journal of Dairy Science 80: 295–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiger, D. Loskutoff, N.M. and Betteridge, K.J. 1992. Changes in the metabolism of glucose, pyruvate, glutamine and glycine during maturation of cattle embryos produced and cultured invitro. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 95: 585–595.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Renard, J.P., Menezo, Y., Saumande, J. and Heyman, Y. 1980. In-vitro uptake of glucose by bovine blastocysts. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 58: 161–164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roche, J.F., Boland, M.P., & McGeady, T.A. 1981. Reproductive wastage following artificial insemination of heifers. Veterinary Record 109:401–403.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sangsritavang, S., Combs, D.K., Sartori, R.F. and Wiltbank, M.C. 2000. Liver blood flow and steroid metabolism are increased by acute feeding and hypertrophy of the digestive tract Journal ofAnimal Science, 78: Supplement 1 abstract 931.Google Scholar
Sartori, R, Sartor-Bergfelt, R., Mertens, S. A., Guenther, J.N. Parrish, J.J. Wiltbank, M.C. 2000. Early embryonic development during summer in lactating dairy cows and nulliparous heifers. Biology of Reproduction. Supplement 62:Abstract 125.Google Scholar
Silke, V., Boland, M.P., Dillon, P., Mee, J.F., Diskin, M.G. and Sreenan, J.M. 2000. Pregnancy loss between Days 28 and 84 of gestation in dairy cows and heifers. Proc. Agricultural Research Forum Dublin. 23:203–204.Google Scholar
Sreenan, J.M. and Diskin, M.G. 1986. The extent and timing of embryonic mortality in cattle. In. Embryonic mortality inform animals (ed. Sreenan, J.M. and Diskin, M.G.), pp 142–158. Martinus Nijhoff, CEC.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Starbuck, G. R., Darwash, A. O., Mann, G. E. and Lamming, G. E. 2000. The detection and treatment of post insemination progesterone insufficiency in dairy cows. Proc BSAS Occasional Meeting “Fertility in the High-Producing Dairy Cow, Ed Diskin, M.G..Google Scholar
Thatcher, W.W., Macmillan, K.L., Hansen, P.J., Drost, M. 1989. Concepts for regulation of corpus luteum function by the conceptus and ovarian follicles to improve fertility. Theriogenology, 31:149–164.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vasconcelos, J.L.M., Silcox, R.W., Lacerda, J.A. Pursley, J.R. and Wiltbank, M.C. 1997. Pregnancy rate, pregnancy loss and response to heat stress after AI at two different times from ovulation in dairy cows. BiologyofReproduction, 57: Supplement 1, 140.Google Scholar
Visek, W.J. 1984. Ammonia: his effects on biological systems, metabolic hormones and reproduction. Journal of Dairy Science, 67:481–498.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiebold, J.L. 1988. Embryonic mortality and the uterine environment in first service lactating dairy cows. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 84: 393–399.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zavy, M.T. 1994. Embryonic mortality in cattle. In: Embryonic mortality in domestic species. Edited by Geisert, R.D. & Zavy, M.T. CRC Press, Florida, 99–140.Google Scholar