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Embryo mortality in maiden hereford x friesian heifers following embryo transfer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

D. Pullar ,
K F D Brown  and
A E Wrathall
D. Pullar
Affiliation:
ADAS High Mowthorpe, Duggleby, Malton, North YorksY017 8BP
K F D Brown
Affiliation:
Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NF
A E Wrathall
Affiliation:
Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NF
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Extract

Early embryo mortality results in significant inefficiency in cattle breeding. A pregnancy rate of 65-70% to a single service, AI or transfer of fresh embryos is considered to be very good indeed. A pregnancy rate of 55-60% using frozen embryos would also be considered very good. Of the 30%, or so, of cattle which do not become pregnant to a single service, approximately one quarter are accounted for by fertilisation failure (Diskin and Sreenan, 1980; Roche et al, 1981) and another quarter by cytogenetic abnormalities in the embryos, which usually occur within the first few days after fertilisation (Hare et al. 1980; Gayerie de Abreu et al, 1984). Failure in the communication between embryo and uterus probably accounts for the remaining 50% of pregnancy loss. Fertilisation failure and early deaths due to cytogenetic abnormalities are by-passed by embryo transfer (ET) so that other causes of loss become rather more significant.

Type
Ruminant Reproduction
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1992 , March 1992 , pp. 46
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1992

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References

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