Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Embryo Loss Following Embryo Transfer in Cattle and Swine

  • Chapter
Embryonic Mortality in Farm Animals

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science ((CTVM,volume 34))

Abstract

Embryo survival following transfer to synchronized recipients was analysed in the context of a review of literature. In the bovine species most embryos are transferred non-surgically giving rise to an average pregnancy rate of 58.8% (4638/7882) on day 60–90 following ipsilateral transfer of a single embryo to synchronized recipients. It is believed that interfarm variation and recipient quality contribute to the variation. The percentage of recipients exhibiting prolonged estrous cycles was 5–6%. The abortion rate following transfer has not received special attention, but may be a problem when transferring embryos from certain donors. To increase the twinning rate two embryos have been transferred bilaterally or unilaterally to synchronized recipients or one embryo has been deposited in the contralateral horn of already mated recipients. Of 590 bilaterally transferred embryos, 380 or 64.4% survived. The survival rate of embryos transferred to the contralateral horn could not be fully evaluated, but the survival rate of either of the embryos was 258 out of 425 (60.7%). Based on these reviews it can be concluded that the survival rate following the three different methods is almost identical (P, embryo survival = 0.59). Embryo survival and pregnancy rates following synchronous and asynchronous transfer in pigs has been reviewed. Pregnancy and embryonic survival rates were 75% and 71%, respectively, and synchronous transfer and negative synchrony allowed a higher survival than positive synchrony.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alexander, A.M., Marcus, A.N. and Hooton, J.K. 1976. Non-surgical bovine embryo recovery. Vet. Rec., 99, 221.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, G.B., Cupps, P.T., Drost, M., Norton, M.B. and Wright, R.W., Or. 1978. Induction of twinning in beef heifers by bilateral embryo transfer. J. Anim. Sci., 46, 449–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, G.B., Cupps, P.T. and Drost, M. 1979. Induction of twins in cattle with bilateral and unilateral embryo transfer. J. Anim. Sci., 49, 1037–1041.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, G.B., BonDurant, R.H. and Cupps, P.T. 1982. Induction of twins in different breeds of cattle. J. Anim, Sci., 54, 485–490.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avery, T.L., Fahning, M.L., Pursel, V.G. and Graham, E.F. 1962. Investigations associated with the transplantation of bovine ova. IV. Transplantation of ova. J. Reprod. Fertil., 3, 229–238.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Betteridge, K.J., Mitchell, D., Eaglesome, M.D. and Randall, G.C.B. 1976. Embryo transfer in cattle 10–17 days after estrus. VHIth Int. Congr. on Anim. Reprod. and A.I., 237–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boland, M.P., Crosby, T.F. and Gordon, I. 1975. Twin pregnancy in cattle established by non-surgical egg transfer. Brit. vet. J., 131, 738–740.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boland, M.P., Crosby, T.F. and Gordon, I. 1976. Birth of twin calves following a simple transcervical non-surgical egg transfer technique. Vet. Rec., 99, 274–275.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boland, M.P. 1976. Twinning in beef cattle. Surgical and non-surgical approaches. 27th Ann. Meet. Europ. Ass. Anim. Prod., Zurich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boland, M.P. and Gordon, I. 1978. Twinning in lactating Friesian cows by non-surgical egg transfer. Vet. Rec., 103, 241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, J.M., Elsden, R.P. and Seidel, G.E., Jr. 1978. Non-surgical embryo transfer in the cow. Theriogenology, 10, 89–95.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brand, A., Aarts, M.H., Zaayer, D. and Oxender, W.D. 1978. Recovery and transfer of embryos by non-surgical procedures in lactating dairy cattle. In: Control of Reproduction in the Cow. A Seminar in the EEC Programme of Coordination of Research on Beef Production held at Galway, Sept. 1977. Current Topics, Vet. Med., 1, 281–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cady, R.A. and Van Vleck, L.D. 1978. Factors affecting twinning and effects of twinning in Hoi stein dairy cattle. J. Anim. Sci., 46, 950–956.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, W.B., Newcomb, R. and Rowson, L.E.A. 1979. Embryo survival in heifers after transfer of en egg to the uterine horn contralateral to the corpus luteum and the effect of treatment with progesterone and HCG on pregnancy rates. J. Reprod. Fertil., 701–706.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Campo, M.R., Rowe, R.F., French, L.R. and Ginther, O.J. 1977. Unilateral relationship of embryos and the corpus luteum in cattle. Biol. Reprod., 6, 580–585.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Campo, M.R., Rowe, R.F., Chaichareon, D. and Ginther, O.J. 1983. Effect of the relative locations of embryo and corpus luteum on embryo survival in cattle. Reprod. Nutr. Develop., 23, 303–308.

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Campo, M.R. and Ginther, O.J. 1982. Effect of bilateral pregnancies on development of the conceptus in cattle. Arch. Med. Vet., 12, 95–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dziuk, P.J. 1968. Effect of number of embryos and uterine space on embryo survival in the pig. J. Anim. Sci., 27, 673–676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, I. and Boland, M.P. 1979. Cattle twins by egg transfer. Irish vet. J., 33, 79–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greve, T. 1981. Bovine egg transplantation in Denmark. Dissertation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greve, T. and Lehn-Jensen, H. 1979. Embryo transplantation in cattle. Nonsurgical transfer of 6J-7i day old embryos to lactating dairy cows under farm conditions. Acta vet. Scand., 20, 135–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guyerie, F. 1983. Personal Comm

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, J., Moustafa, L.A., Schneider, U., Hahn, R., Romanowski, W. and Roselius, R. 1978. Survival of cultured and transported bovine embryos following surgical and non-surgical transfers. In: Control of Reproduction in the Cow. A Seminar in the EEC Programme of Coordination of Research on Beef Production held at Galway, Sept. 1977. Current Topics, Vet. Med., l9 356–373

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn, J. 1984. Personal Comm

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanrahan, J.P. 1983. The inter-ovarian distribution of twin ovulations and embryo survival in the bovine. Theriogenology, 2, 3–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyman, Y. and Renard, J.P. 1978. Production de sumeaux par transplantation d’embryons chez les bovins de race a viande. Ann. Med. Vet. 122, 157–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holy, L., Jiricek, A., Vanatka, F., Vrtel, M. and Fernandez, V. 1981. Artificial induction of twinning in cattle by means of supplemental embryo transfer. Theriogenology, 16, 483–487.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • James, J.E., James, D.M., Martin, P.A., Reed, D.E. and Davis, D.L. 1983. Embryo transfer for conserving valuable genetic material from swine herds with pseudorabies. J. Amer. vet. med. Ass., 183, 525–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jillelia,D. and Baker, A.A. 1977. Transcervical transfer of bovine embryos. Vet.Rec., 103, 574-528

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampeter, W.W., Kruff, B., Rieger, J., Wagner, H.G. and Ertel, J. 1980. Beschreibung eines Verfahrens zum unblutigen Transfer boviner Embryo- nen. Zuchthyg., 5, 173–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindner, G.M. and Wright, W., Jr. 1983. Bovine embryo morphology and evaluation. Theriogenology, 20, 407–416.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Markette, K.L., Seidel, G.E., Jr. and Elsden, R.P. 1980. Embryonic loss after bovine embryo transfer. Theriogenology, V3, 105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, R., Christie, W.B. and Rowson, L.E.A. 1978. Comparison of the fetal survival rate in heifers after the transfer of an embryo surgically to one uterine horn and non-surgically to the other. J. Reprod. Fertil., 52, 395–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, R. 1979. Surgical and non-surgical transfer of bovine embryos. Vet. Rec., 5, 432–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, R. and Rowson, L.E.A. 1980. Investigation of physiological factors affecting non-surgical transfer. Theriogenology, 13, 41–49.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, R., Christie, W.B. and Rowson, L.E.A. 1980. Fetal survival rate after the surgical transfer of two bovine embryos. J. Reprod. Fertil, 59, 31–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, L. and 0stergaard-Nielsen, N. 1979. Non-surgical transplantation of seven day old cattle embryos to cows and heifers. Dansk Vet.-Tidsskr., 62, 972–973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemann, H. and Elsaesser, F. 1984. Uptake and effects of ovarian steroids in the early pig embryo: in vitro and in vivo studies. Theriogenology, 2, 84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, D.F., Anderson, G.B., BonDurant, R., Cupps, P.T. and Drost, M. 1978. Transfer of cultured bovine embryos. Theriogenology, 10, 337–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polge, C. 1983. Embryo transplantation in the pig. In: 2nd Wor;d Conf. on Embryo Transfer and in Vitro Fertilization in Mammals

    Google Scholar 

  • Pope, W.F., Maurer, R.R. and Stormshak, F. 1982. Survival of porcine embryos after asynchronous transfer. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med., 171, 179–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renard, J.-P., Heyman, Y. & Ozil, J.-P. 1980. Importance of gestation losses after non-surgical transfer of cultured and non-cultured bovine blastocysts. Vet. Rec., J97, 152–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Renard, J.-P., Stormshak, F. & Ozil, J.-P. 1977. Unilateral and bilateral cervical transfer of bovine embryos at the blastocyst stage. 7,189–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, R.F., Del Campo, M.R., Chritser, J.K. and Ginther, O.J. 1980. Embryo transfer in cattle: Non-surgical transfer. Amer. J. vet. Res., 41, 1024–1028.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowson, L.E.A. and Moor, R.M. 1966. Non-surgical transfer of cow eggs. J. Reprod. Fertil., 1, 311–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowson, L.E.A., Moor, R.M. and Lawson, R.A.S. 1969. Fertility following egg transfer in the cow; effect of method, medium and synchroni¬zation of oestrus. J. Reprod. Fertil., 8, 517–523.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowson, L.E.A., Lawson, R.A.S. and Moor, R.M. 1971. Production of twins in cattle by egg transfer. J. Reprod. Fertil., 25, 261–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon, P.F. 1972. Frequency of transuterine migration of embryos in ewes and cows. J. Anim. Sci., 34, 791–794.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, H.J., Jr., Castleberry, R.S. and Griffin, G.L. 1980. Commercial aspects of bovine embryo transfer. Theriogenology, 3, 73–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sreenan, J.M., Beehan, D. and Mulvehill, P. 1975. Egg transfer in the cow: Factors affecting pregnancy and twinning rates following bilateral transfers. J. Reprod. Fertil., 44, 77–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreenan, J.M. and Beehan, D. 1976. Effects of site of transfer on pregnancy and twinning rates following bilateral egg transfer in the cow. J. Reprod. Fertil., 48, 223–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreenan, J.M. and McDough, T. 1979. Comparison of the embryo survival rate in heifers following artificial insemination, non-surgical blastocyst transfer or both. J. Reprod. Fertil., 56 281–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sreenan, J.M., Diskin, M.G. and McDonagh, T. 1981. Induction of twin- calving by non-surgical embryo transfer: A field trial. Vet. Rec., 109, 77–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugie, T. 1965. Successful transfer of a fertilized bovine egg by nonsurgical techniques. J. Reprod. Fertil., 197–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Summers, P.M., Shelton, J.N. and Edwards, J. 1983. The production of mixed-species bos taurus-bos indicus twin calves. Anim. Reprod. Sci., 6, 79–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y. 1980. Comparative studies on bovine embryo transfer for three different techniques of transcervical, flank surgical and cervical bypass methods. Japan. J. Anim. Reprod., 26, 155–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Suzuki, T. and Saito, N. 1981. Cervical bovine embryo transfer with ensheathed metal Al instrument. Japan. J. Anim. Reprod., 27, 54–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi, Y., Suzuki, T. and Shimohira, I. 1982. Experiments on cervical embryo transfer in cattle. Effects of paper sheath covering transfer instruments on pregnancy rates and uterine bacterial contaminations. Japan. J. Anim. Reprod., 28, 30–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tervit, H.R., Havik, P.G. and Smith, J.F. 1977. Egg transfer in cattle: Pregnancy rate following transfer to the uterine horn ipsilateral or contralateral to the functional corpus luteum. Theriogenology, 7, 3–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tervit, H.R., Goold, P.G. and Cooper, M.W. 1978. Non-surgical embryo transfer in cattle. N.Z. vet. J., 26, 215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tervit, H.R., Cooper, M.W., Goold, P.G. and Haszard, G.M. 1980. Nonsurgical embryo transfer in cattle. Theriogenology, 13, 63–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Testart, H.R. Cooper, M.W.,Goold, P.G. and Haszard, G.M. 1975. Transviganal transplantation of an extra egg to obtain twinning in cattle. Theriogenology, 4, 163-168

    Google Scholar 

  • Trounson, A.O., Rowson, L.E.A. and Willadsen, S.M. 1978. Non-surgical transfer of bovine embryos. Vet. Rec., 102, 74–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webel, S.K., Peters, J.B. and Anderson, L.L. 1970. Synchronous and asynchronous transfer of embryos in the pig. J. Anim. Sci., 30, 565–-568.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, W.L. 1943. Diseases of the genital organs of domestic animals. 3rd Edit., Plimpton, E.W. (ed. ), Ithaca, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilmut, I., Sales, D.I., Manson, C. and Newell, G. 1978. Non-surgical transfer of cattle embryos - A field trial. ARC Report, Edinburgh, 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J.M. 1981. Non-surgical embryo transfer in cattle. Embryo- recipient interactions. Theriogenology, 15, 43–56.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Animal Reproduction, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 13, Bulowsvej, DK-1870, Copenhagen V, Denmark

    Torben Greve

  2. Instituto Reproduccion Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaris, Universidad Austral del Chile, Chile

    Marcelo Del Campo

Authors
  1. Torben Greve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marcelo Del Campo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Western Research Centre, The Agricultural Institute, Belclare, Tuan, Eire

    J. M. Sreenan  & M. G. Diskin  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1986 ECSC, EEC, EAEC, Brussels-Luxembourg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Greve, T., Del Campo, M. (1986). Embryo Loss Following Embryo Transfer in Cattle and Swine. In: Sreenan, J.M., Diskin, M.G. (eds) Embryonic Mortality in Farm Animals. Current Topics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, vol 34. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5038-2_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-5038-2_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8732-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-5038-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation