Embryo Transfer In Cattle

EMBRYO TRANSFER IN CATTLE 
  • Artificial Insemination has allowed genetic process to be achieved relatively, quickly through the widespread and efficient use of frozen semen for the past several decades. Genetic programmes were limited to male side for genetic contribution because cows could relatively produce only one calf in one year. Today due to the advancement of embryo transfer technique cows can produce many offspring every year.
  • Embryo transfer is a method of artificial breeding for the genetic improvement of cattle. Cows have a 21 day oestrus cycle with a day zero characterized by visual display of heat. Buffaloes are silent heaters. Approximately 12 hours after the end of heat a single non- fertilized egg (ova) is released from 1 or 2 ovaries.
  • If the cow is bred at the end of heat the egg will be fertilized shortly after ovulation and develop into embryo. The process of embryo transfser is typically the same. But the cow is made to superovulate by hormone treatment so that at one single oestrus period instead of one usual ovum more ova are produced if the cow is bred at this stage more fertilized embryos may result.If these embryos are physically collected from that cow. Each of the fertilized embryo may be transferred to each foster mother so that, more calves can be produced simultaneously from each foster mother. One major advantage of embryo transfer is the cross breeding for genetic improvement can be achieved quickly.
  • The first successful transfer of fertilized rabbit eggs was reported in 1891 by Walter and Heape at Cambridge. The first successful embryo transfer in farm animals was done in 1934 in Sheep and Goats. The first offspring after transfer of embryos in cattle and swine was reported in 1951.
  • Embryo transfer includes a sequence of various steps which are
  • Embryo transfer techniques have been extensively used in cattle and more sporadically in Sheep, Goats and Pigs.
Last modified: Tuesday, 13 September 2011, 11:22 AM