Preliminary report on single transfer and induced twinning by embryo transfer in dairy cattle

摘要

Two donor cows were superovulated with porcine follicle stimulating hormone (p-FSH). The non-surgical method of embryo collection was performed using a two-way foley catheter connected to a Y-tubing and "Em-Con" embryo filter. A total of 21 embryoswere collected, of which 18 embryos were suitable for transfer. Seven (7) recipient cows were implanted with one embryo each, 4 recipients were transferred with two embryos and 1 recipient was deposited with three embryos. The results of the embryo transfers were 3 pregnancies with two (2) calves dropped. Recipients with natural estrus had higher pregnancy rate (50 percent) compared to estrus-synchronized recipients (no pregnancy). Embryos transferred at early blastocyst stage resulted to pregnancies insingle (14.28 percent), twin (12.50 percent) and triple (66.67 percent) embryo transfers. Pregnancy rate of single embryo transfer appears to be more successful if estrus in recipient was not induced and if the embryo transferred was on early blastocyststage. Induced twinning resulted to one calf and stillbirth twins. More data in twin and triple transfer are needed to accurately evaluate technical successes of induced twinning involving different cattle breeds under Philippine conditions.