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Superovulation protocols for dairy cows bred with SexedULTRA™ sex‐sorted semen
Author(s) -
Dell’Eva Giuliana,
Bolognini Davide,
Iacono Eleonora,
Merlo Barbara
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.13421
Subject(s) - semen , estrous cycle , zoology , biology , semen quality , andrology , embryo quality , embryo , medicine , embryogenesis , microbiology and biotechnology
Contents The objective was to compare embryo yield and quality in lactating dairy cows superovulated (SO) with varying amounts of gonadotropins and FSH:LH ratios and inseminated with SexedULTRA™ sex‐sorted semen. The SO treatments ( n = 77) involved 3 protocols: groups F700 and F1000 were given total doses of 700 and 1,000 IU of Folltropin (FSH:LH ratio 49:1), respectively, whereas group F700P300 was given 700 IU of Folltropin + 300 IU of Pluset (FSH:LH ratio 1:1). Cows were artificially inseminated 3 times over a 10‐hr interval with frozen‐thawed SexedULTRA™ sex‐sorted semen (total of 10 × 10 6 sex‐sorted sperm), starting 18 hr after onset of oestrus, with embryos/ova recovered 7 d after oestrus. Total number of recovered structures and transferable embryos were lower ( p < 0.05) in F700 (4.7 ± 3.0 and 1.9 ± 1.7, respectively; mean ± SD ) compared to F1000 (8.1 ± 3.8 and 4.4 ± 2.6) and F700P300 (8.5 ± 6.4 and 4.5 ± 3.3). Percentage of cows ovulating >50% of follicles ≥0.8 cm in diameter was lower ( p < 0.05) in F700 (35.5%) than in F1000 (82.4%) and F700P300 (73.1%). Percentage of unfertilized oocytes was higher ( p < 0.05) in F700 (45.0% vs. 27.7% for F1000 and 29.0% for F700P300) whereas percentage of morulae was higher ( p < 0.05) in F1000 (19.3% vs. 8.7% for F700 and 12.2% for F700P300). Embryo quality was similar among groups ( p > 0.05). In conclusion, embryo production in lactating dairy cows was improved by increasing total dose of gonadotropins from 700 to 1,000 IU, with SexedULTRA™ sex‐sorted semen yielding satisfactory fertilization rates and embryo quality.