Direct transfer of a single frozen–thawed in vitro‐produced embryo to avoid twin pregnancy in dairy cows. Issue 2 (11th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: López‐Gatius, Fernando; Palacín‐Chauri, Roger J.; Garcia‐Ispierto, Irina
• Is Part Of: Reproduction in domestic animals. Volume 58:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 358
• Page End: 360
• Publication Date: 2022-11-11
• Subjects: double ovulation -- repeat breeding -- twinning; Animal breeding -- Periodicals; Veterinary pathology -- Periodicals; Livestock -- Breeding -- Periodicals; 636.082
• DOI: 10.1111/rda.14290
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0936-6768

Abstract

Abstract: Fertility of cow receiving fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI) was compared with cow in which a single frozen–thawed in vitro‐produced (IVP) embryo was fixed‐time transferred (FTET) to avoid twin pregnancy. The study population was comprised of 596 lactating dairy cows synchronized for oestrus: 440 were fixed‐time inseminated (AI cows), and 156 were given GnRH treatment at the time of embryo transfer (ET cows) 8 days post‐oestrus. Of the 596 cows, 235 (39.4%) became pregnant: 175 (39.8%) AI cows and 60 (39.8%) ET cows. Twin pregnancy was recorded in 16% of the AI pregnant cows (28/175), whereas no ET cows had twins (0/60). Significant interaction ( p < .01) was observed between breeding technique (FTAI vs FTET) and repeat (RB) or not repeat breeding (NRB) for the likelihood of pregnancy. This meant that using RB AI cows as reference, the odds ratio for pregnancy in RB ET cows was 2.2 ( p = .04). In conclusion, transfer of a frozen IVP embryo proved useful to prevent the risk of twin pregnancy without affecting fertility.