Question

Explain multiple ovulation and embryo transfer in cattle.

Answer 1

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer is done to increase the reproduction rate in farm animals. It is possible to produce more than one offspring from genetically fit cows.

Complete Answer:
- Embryo Transfer (ET) is a method to enhance the genetic potential of the best animals. It involves a 5 week superovulation program which results in several eggs being released from the donor cow, as compared to the one during a natural heat.
- The hormones, especially the Follicle Stimulating Hormones are used to stimulate the ovaries of the cycling cattle to get multiple ovulations. The animal is artificially inseminated and multiple eggs are fertilized in the reproductive tract. After 7 days, the embryos are collected and frozen to transfer later.

It occurs in the following steps:
- Follicle Stimulating Hormones (FSH) and prostaglandin are injected into the cattle to cause the ovaries to release more than one egg in a cycle.
- The donor cow is injected with an epidural to relax her bowel. The rear end is washed and sterilized to prevent any infections. The doctor inserts its hand in the rectum of the cow and places a catheter into one horn of the uterus. The fluid is then run into the uterine horn. The fluid is run back through the catheter and a very fine filter where the embryos are caught. The embryos are collected. The cow is then injected with prostaglandin after 3 days for proper cycling.
- The embryos detected are counted, graded and washed. Many of these embryos are accepted by the recipients and a normal pregnancy occurs. Embryos can also be frozen for sale or later transfer.

Note: This process does not require any surgeries and can be carried out easily in the farms. Multiple progenies can be obtained and the breed’s quality can be increased.