Evaluation of reciprocal differences in Bos indicus × Bos taurus backcross calves produced through embryo transfer: I. Birth and weaning traits1

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Amen ◽  
A. D. Herring ◽  
J. O. Sanders ◽  
C. A. Gill
2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
J. Duran ◽  
D. Argudo ◽  
S. Bravo ◽  
C. Soria ◽  
G. Guevara ◽  
...  

Recipient handling during embryo transfer (ET) induces prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) production in 2 periods: an early transient and rapid increase around the time of ET, followed by another 2 to 4 h later. This PGF2α is associated with embryonic loss during early gestation by affecting both the embryo and the corpus luteum. To control this, antiprostaglandins such as flunixin meglumine (FM) have been applied IM at the time of ET with varying results. In such studies, the interaction of IM administration of FM and difficulty of transfer has not always been evaluated, possibly confusing the interpretation of the results. Furthermore, IV FM injection at ET and its relationship with pregnancy rates (PR) has not been determined. The objectives were (1) to determine the relationship between difficulty of ET and PR; and (2) to evaluate the efficacy of IM v. IV FM on pregnancy outcomes. One hundred and ten crossbred (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) heifers (18-24 months old) from 3 farms were used as recipients. Two evaluation systems of ET difficulty were used: (1) duration of transfer (objective determination of the elapsed time measured in seconds between the introduction of the catheter and embryo release), and (2) level of difficulty experienced by the practitioner (subjective determination; 1 = minimum and 2 = medium to extreme manipulation). Quality 1 and 2 fresh embryos from superovulated cows were transferred by the same practitioner. At ET, recipients were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) Control (no treatment, n = 31); (2) FM-IM (n = 39): injected IM with 2.2 mg kg−1 FM at ET; and (3) FM-IV (N = 40): injected with 2.2 mg kg−1 FM IV at ET. Pregnancy was diagnosed at 30 to 40 and 60 to 90 days after ET. Spearman’s test was performed to determine the correlation between duration and difficulty at ET and Chi-square test was used to compare PR. The mean duration of transfer for all heifers was 62.3 ± 57.5 s (11 to 357 s; median: 44.5 s). There was a high correlation (0.8; P < 0.001) between the ET difficulty evaluation systems. Overall, ET difficulty 1 had higher PR than ET difficulty 2 (64.2 v. 40.7; P = 0.013). The PR was significantly improved (P < 0.01) in the FM-IV group (75 and 70% at 30 and 60 days after ET) compared with control (45.2 and 32.3%) and FM-IM (33.3 and 30.7%). In conclusion, results indicate that the difficulty of transfer affects PR achieved following the transfer of in vivo-derived bovine embryos. Treatment with FM-IV following transfer resulted in significantly higher PR compared with control and FM-IM recipients. The IV injection of FM may antagonize the very early and transient increase of PGF2α caused by genital tract manipulation (even gently performed) at embryo transfer. Further research is necessary to confirm the results of the present study.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Tribulo ◽  
E. Balla ◽  
L. Cutaia ◽  
G.A. Bo ◽  
P.S. Baruselli ◽  
...  

Although several studies have investigated the relationship between circulating progesterone and pregnancy rates in cattle, the beneficial effect of treatments that increase progesterone concentrations, by insertion of a progesterone (P4) releasing device or induction of an accessory CL with hCG, GnRH, or LH treatment, has resulted in inconsistent effects on pregnancy rates in embryo recipients. An experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of hCG or GnRH treatment, given at the time of embryo transfer without estrus detection, on pregnancy rates in recipients treated with intrauterine P4-releasing devices, estradiol benzoate (EB), and eCG. The experiment was performed in two replicates; non-lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbred beef cows with a body condition score between 2.5 to 3.5 (1-to-5 scale) were used (replicate 1, n = 180; replicate 2, n = 140). All cows received 1 g of P4 via a P4-releasing device (DIB, Syntex, Argentina) and 2 mg EB i.m. (Syntex) on Day 0, and 400 IU of eCG i.m. (Novormon 5000, Syntex) plus 150 μg d(+)cloprostenol i.m. (Ciclase, Syntex) on Day 5. DIBs were removed on Day 8 and all cows received 1 mg EB i.m. on Day 9. Recipients were not observed for signs of estrus, and those >1 CL, or a single CL with an area >256 mm2, received 195 Grade 1 and 46 Grade 2 frozen/thawed “direct transfer” embryos on Day 17. At the time of embryo transfer, recipients were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 treatment groups to receive 1500 IU hCG (Ovusyn, Syntex), 50 μg Lecirelina (GnRH, Gonasyn, Syntex), or no treatment (control) at that time. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed on Day 0 to determine ovarian status (only cows with a CL or a follicle >10 mm and uterine tone were used), on Day 17 to measure CL area, and 40 days after embryo transfer to determine pregnancy status. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and the effects of replication, technician, treatment, and embryo quality were considered in the model. From the 320 recipients treated with a DIB plus EB and eCG, 241 (75.3%) were selected to receive an embryo. Nine (3.7%) and 1 (0.4%) of the selected recipients had 2 and 3 CL, respectively. Pregnancy rates did not differ between replicates (replicate 1: 80/140, 57.1%; and replicate 2: 57/101, 56.4%; P = 0.84), technicians (technician 1: 65/118, 55.1%; and technician 2: 72/123, 58.5%; P = 0.64), or treatments (hCG: 43/80, 53.8%; GnRH: 45/83, 54.2%; and control: 49/78, 62.8% P = 0.99). However, pregnancy rates were higher (P = 0.001) in recipients receiving Grade 1 embryos (121/195, 62.1%) than in those receiving Grade 2 embryos (16/46, 34.8%). GnRH or hCG treatment at the time of embryo transfer did not increase pregnancy rates in recipients synchronized with P4 releasing devices, EB, and eCG. Research was supported by Syntex S.A., Estancia El Mangrullo S.A., and Agencia Cordoba Ciencia S.E.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 14-15
Author(s):  
Dana Mickey ◽  
James Sanders ◽  
David G Riley ◽  
Andy D Herring

Abstract The objectives of this study were to analyze calf weight and sex distribution differences in reciprocal F2 Nellore-Angus calves (n = 559) born 2010–2015 and calves out of these F2 females through 4 yr age (n = 469) born 2012–2018. The F2 animals were produced by 4 F1 parent type combinations from Nellore-sired (NA) vs. Angus-sired (AN) sires and dams. Weight traits were analyzed using mixed models, and sex distribution was analyzed through PROC GLIMMIX in SAS. Sire type and dam type affected birth weight (P &lt; 0.05) but not weaning weight of the F2 calves. However, the interaction between sire type and dam type accounted for weaning weight differences (P = 0.038). Birth weight averaged 3.5 kg heavier from NA vs. AN sires, and 2.4 kg heavier from NA vs. AN dams. Weaning weight displayed a different pattern than observed in birth weight with the heaviest calves being NAAN (224.5 ± 3.7 kg) and lightest being ANAN (215.9 ± 3.9 kg). Sire type accounted for important variation (P = 0.036) in the calf sex distribution at birth among F2 calves. Percentage males at birth exceeded the expected ratio for NA-sired calves (66.6%, n = 168) but not for AN-sired calves (49.9%, n = 105). The sire and dam type main effects in the F2 females did not influence weight traits or sex distribution in their calves (from predominantly Angus sires). However, the interaction of sire type x dam type x sex showed a trend in birth weight (P = 0.080) and importance for weaning weight (P = 0.010) where only from ANNA and NANA dams were males heavier than females. These results suggest that some of the calf weight reciprocal differences typically observed among F1 Bos indicus-Bos taurus crosses can persist in later generations.


2004 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1577-1584 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.F. Nasser ◽  
E.L. Reis ◽  
M.A. Oliveira ◽  
G.A. Bó ◽  
P.S. Baruselli

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro S. Baruselli ◽  
Roberta M. Ferreira ◽  
Manoel F. Sá Filho ◽  
Luiz F. T. Nasser ◽  
Carlos A. Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Numerous studies have shown that it is possible to manipulate follicular and luteal dynamics, thereby eliminating the need for oestrus detection in embryo transfer (ET) programmes. Fixed-time ET (FTET) protocols are based on the use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and prostaglandin (PG) F or progesterone/progestogen (P4)-releasing devices and oestradiol. The FTET protocols increases the proportion of recipients transferred, and therefore pregnancy rates, compared with the use of PGF followed by ET 7 days after oestrus. Furthermore, the addition of equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) to the P4 and oestradiol-based FTET protocols results in an even higher proportion of recipients transferred, and thus higher pregnancy rates. The beneficial effect of eCG treatment may be related to increased growth of the dominant follicle and increased plasma P4 concentrations during the subsequent luteal phase. In Bos taurus × Bos indicus recipients, pregnancy rates were positively correlated with the diameter of the corpus luteum (CL) and the number of CL at ET. When repeat-breeder Holstein cows were used as recipients, FTET protocols increased number of recipients transferred and pregnancy rates compared with the traditional PGF-based synchronisation protocols. In conclusion, the use of FTET protocols eliminates the need for the detection of oestrus and results in a greater proportion of recipients transferred and satisfactory pregnancy rates. Thus, FTET optimises the use of recipients, reducing labour and animal handling and facilitating the use of ET.


2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.A. Bo ◽  
E. Balla ◽  
L. Cutaia ◽  
L. Peres ◽  
P.S. Baruselli ◽  
...  

Although treatments with progesterone (P4) releasing devices, estradiol benzoate (EB) and eCG have been shown to result in acceptable pregnancy rates after embryo transfer, the treatment requires that the cows be run through the chute at least four times for treatments. An experiment was designed to compare pregnancy rates in cows treated with P4 releasing devices plus EB and eCG, and induced to ovulate with EB given at device removal or 24 h later. Non-lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus crossbred beef cows (n = 165), with a body condition score between 2.5 to 3.5 (1 to 5 scale), were treated with a P4-device (DIB, Syntex, Argentina) and 2 mg EB i.m. (Syntex), on Day 0 and 400 IU of eCG i.m. (Novormon, Syntex) plus 150 μg D(+)cloprostenol i.m. (Ciclase, Syntex) on Day 5. On Day 8, DIB devices were removed and cows were randomly divided into two groups to receive either 1 mg EB i.m. at the time of DIB removal (EB0) or 24 h later (Day 9; EB24). Recipients were observed for signs of estrus for 48 h after DIB removal. On Day 16, all recipients observed in estrus and with >1 CL or a single CL with an area >256 mm2 were selected to receive fresh embryos on Day 16 (EB0) or Day 17 (EB24). Furthermore, 20 recipients not observed in estrus but with a CL >256 mm2 were randomly selected and transferred. The embryos used were 28 Grade 1, 40 Grade 2, and 24 Grade 3. Ovarian ultrasonography was performed on Day 0, to determine ovarian status (only cows with a CL or a follicle >10 mm and uterine tone were used), on Day 16 to measure CL area, and 60 days after embryo transfer to determine pregnancy status. Quantitative data were analyzed by Student's t-test and qualitative data were analyzed by logistic regression. There were no differences between groups in the mean (± SEM) CL area on Day 16 (EB0: 300.3 ± 12.0 mm2 and EB24: 324.9 ± 11.7 mm2; P = 0.14), the proportion of recipients in estrus (EB0: 38/82, 46.3%, and EB24: 34/83, 41.0%; P = 0.49), the number of recipients with >1 CL or a CL >256 mm2 (EB0: 68/82, 82.9%, and EB24: 72/83, 86.7%; P = 0.49) and the number of recipients pregnant/transferred (EB0: 31/49, 63.4%, and 20/43, 46.5%; P = 0.23). Furthermore, there were no significant effects of embryo quality (P = 0.31) or technician (P = 0.12) on pregnancy rates. The mean interval from DIB removal to estrus was shorter (P = 0.001) for recipients in the EB0 group (22.7 ± 1.0 h) than for those in the EB24 group (37.4 ± 1.2 h). Nevertheless, pregnancy rates did not differ (P = 0.14) between recipients seen in estrus (EB0: 21/38, 55.3%, and EB 24: 16/34, 47.1%) and those not seen in estrus but with a CL >256 mm2 on Day 16 (EB0: 10/11, 90.9%, and EB24 4/9, 44.4%). It was concluded that the two treatments evaluated are equally efficacious for synchronizing Bos taurus × Bos indicus recipients. Furthermore, the use of EB at device removal could reduce the number of trips through the chute without affecting pregnancy rates. Research was supported by Syntex S.A., Estancia El Mangrullo S.A., and Agencia Cordoba Ciencia S.E.


2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 249
Author(s):  
B.X. Nguyen ◽  
N.T. Uoc ◽  
L.V. Ty ◽  
R.L. Monson ◽  
M.L. Leibfried-Rutledge ◽  
...  

Increasing the diary population and milk production is a goal of many tropical developing countries. We report in this paper an attempt to develop a system of intercontinental shipping for transfer of fresh crossbred Bos taurus×Bos indicus IVF embryos into local Laisind (Bos indicus) recipients as a way to produce tropical dairy calves with highly improved milk productivity. The production of embryos was done at BOMED, Inc (Madison, WI, USA). Oocytes collected from ovaries of Holstein (Bos taurus) at slaughter and semen from milking Gir (Bos indicus) were used for IVP. Cleaved embryos were selected for air shipping in portable incubators at Day 4 (Group 1), Day 3 (Group 2) or Day 2 (Group 3) after IVF. The duration of shipping varied from 60 to 65h. Embryo transfer was done in Vietnam. Laisind cows (Yellow cattle×Red Sindhi) with body weight more then 280kg and normal reproductive activity were selected for treatment of estrous synchronization with double 11-day interval injection of PG2α (Intervet, Boxmeer, The Netherlands) and single injection of eCG (SABC Vietnam) two days before the second injection of PG2α. Timing of injections was calculated according to the IVF schedule. Embryos collected from portable incubators were transferred to a CO2 incubator for further culture at 39°C. Two experiments were carried out: (1) transfer of embryos without sexing;; (2) transfer of embryos after biopsy and sex determination by PCR. In experiment 2, compact morulae or morula-blastocysts were selected for sex determination. Four to five blastomeres were aspirated from each embryo using a cutting pipette and an aspiration pipette of 30-μm diameter. PCR was done as previously described (Uoc et al., 1999 J. Biology). After biopsy, embryos were kept in culture for one day to observe the development in vitro. Embryos developed to morula-blastocyst or hatching blastocyst at Day 7 or Day 8 after IVF were transferred nonsurgically to recipients with estrus detected in the period from 0 to 12h before or after the starting IVF. Pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation 3 months after embryo transfer. The average rate of embryos developed into morula-blastocyst was more then 50% (Table 1) and there were no significant differences among different shipping groups. For experiment 2, more then 87 % of embryos biopsied developed in vitro to expanding and hatching embryos. The average rate of female embryos was 56.3%. The pregnancy rate at 3 months was more then 44% (n=188). The first group of calves was born without unusual birthing problems. In conclusion, the system of embryo transfer using intercontinental shipping of fresh IVF embryos and local Bos indicus recipients can be applied for production of dairy calves. Supported by grant from the AIRE-Development agency. Table 1 Development in vitro of IVP embryos


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
S. Castañeda ◽  
S. Romo ◽  
M. E. Kjelland

Biotechnology continues to evolve rapidly, allowing the development of artificial reproductive techniques (ART) to increase reproductive efficiency and contribute to the genetic improvement of domestic animals. The present study examines the results obtained after 30 months of starting a commercial practice for ovum pickup (OPU) in vitro embryo production (IVP) and embryo transfer (ET) in cattle in tropical and subtropical Mexico. This research was conducted from 2013–2015 in beef and dairy cattle kept under different environmental and management conditions in 6 states (Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Yucatan). Oocytes were collected by OPU, without hormonal treatment, from 10 donor cows: 2 Bos taurus (Bt), 5 Bos indicus (Bi), and 3 Bt × Bi. A total of 98 oocyte recovery sessions were performed on 756 cows and produced 12 524 viable oocytes (1349 GI, 3383 GII, 7792 GIII), which were sent to a central laboratory for IVP. Both conventional and sexed semen were used for IVF, from 9 breeds: 2 Bt, 5 Bi and 2 Bt × Bi. The overall cleavage rate was 69% (8587/12 524). The embryo production efficiency rate was 31% (3905/12 524). Fresh sexed and conventional embryos were transferred to recipients synchronised with the following protocol: Day 0, application of an intravaginal device (ID) with progesterone and 2 mg of oestradiol benzoate IM; Day 8, removal of the ID, 400 IU eCG IM, 0.5 mg cloprostenol sodium IM, and 0.5 mg oestradiol cipionate IM. Day 10 was considered the day of oestrus. Pregnancy rate after ET was 38% (945/3905). The average number of viable oocytes per donor cow was 16.57; the average number of transferred embryos per donor cow was 5.17, and the average number of pregnancies per donor cow was 1.25. The OPU-IVP were successful in producing pregnancies even under several adverse conditions, such as a tropical environment, many donors being prepuberal females and the majority of the adult cows having a previous non-productive history due to hormonal mishandling in superovulation programs or because of overfeeding for show purposes. The consequences of these factors can be observed in the lower overall cleavage rate obtained (69%), compared to the expected (75%). Some variables require further analysis (e.g. different OPU and ET technicians, time of year, cow age, cow breed, and use of conventional and sexed semen). A successful IVP practice has to face and overcome multiple problems that may arise in some geographic locations but, perhaps, not in others. It is interesting to note the use of sexed versus conventional embryos, of the 98 ET sessions, 25 involved sexed embryos versus 73 for conventional embryos. The use of sexed semen for OPU-IVP and ET in this region of Mexico continues to expand. We thank Genemex Internacional and the ranch owners that were involved with this research.


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