• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1997

These studies were carried out to establish an effective and practical system for commercialization of embryo production techniques by analyzing several factors influencing in vivo embryo production in Korean native cattle. In vivo embryos were flushed 226 times from 128 donors. The results obtained in studies on the factors influencing in vivo embryo production were as follows : 1. There were no significant differences in the number of total recovered, fertilized, transferable and freezable embryos among the hormone doses(FSH-P, 28∼34mg; SUPER-OV, 75IU) used for superovulation. However, over 30mg doses of FSH-P showed a slightly higher effect than others. 2. There were slight decrease in the number of fertilized, transferable and freezable embryos in 3 times repeated superovulation. But there were no significant differences among 1, 2 and 3 times repeated superovulations. 3. Age of donors did not affect the number of transferable and freezable embryos, but the number of fertilzed embryos were highest in 2∼3 years old donors and were lowest in 8∼9 years old donors(P<0.05). 4. Season had a significant effect on the production of embryos(P<0.05). the embryo production, and the number of fertilized, transferable and freezable embryos were most effective in summer and follow by spring, autumn and winter. 5. The number of transferable and freezable embryos was highest in donors flushed at 7∼8 days after estrus(P<0.05).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.597-602
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• 2001

This study was conducted to examine the relationships between the methods used to determine the number of transferable embryos collected per flush and the estimated cumulative genetic improvements in the Japanese Holstein MOET breeding population. Cumulative genetic improvements were predicted by Monte Carlo simulation using three different determination methods (MODEL 1, MODEL 2, and MODEL 3), for calculating the number of embryos collected per flush. Moreover EBVs were estimated including or ignoring coefficients of inbreeding in MME. Inbreeding coefficients were also predicted. The number of transferable embryos was determined using normal, gamma, and Poisson distributions in MODEL 1, gamma and Poisson distributions in MODEL 2, and only the Poisson distribution in MODEL 3. The fitness of MODEL 2 in relation to field data from Hokkaido Japan was the best, and the results for MODEL3 indicated that this model is unsuitable for determining the number of transferable embryos. The largest cumulative genetic improvement (3.11) in the 10th generation was predicted by MODEL 3 and the smallest (2.83) by MODEL 2. Mean coefficients of correlation between the true and estimated breeding values were 0.738, 0.729, and 0.773 in MODELS 1, 2, and 3, respectively. It is suggested that the smallest genetic improvement in MODEL 2 resulted from the smallest correlation coefficient between the true and estimated breeding values. The differences in milk, fat, and protein yields between MODELS 2 and 3 were 182.0, 7.0, and 5.6 kg, respectively, in real units when each trait was independently selected. The inbreeding coefficient was the highest (0.374) in MODEL 2 and the lowest (0.357) in MODEL 3. The effects of different methods for determining the number of transferable embryos per flush on genetic improvements and inbreeding coefficients of the simulated populations were remarkable. The effects of including coefficients of inbreeding in MME, however, were unclear.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2000

This study was carried out to establish an effective embryo production system by analyzing several factors ifluencing in vivo embryo production in Hanwoo. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The number of total, fertilized and transferble embryos by gonadotropins were no significant difference among PMSG, FSH and FSH+PMSH. 2. The numbers of recovered and transferable embryos by type of FSH were no significant difference in both FSH-P and FOLLTROPIN-V but significant difference with SUPER-OV(p<0.01). 3. The numbers of recovered and transferable embryos by age of donor were highest in 5 years old. 4. The recovered number of transferable embryos was highest in the cows at the 1 st and 3rd parity but significantly lower in hifers and the cows at more than 6th parities(p<0.01). 5. The numbers of trasferable embryos by postparient were more<270 days than > 270 days in significant difference(p<0.01). 6. Embryo production after treatment of repeated super ovulation was no significant difference. 7. Recovered and trasferable embryos production after treatment of repeated super ovulation interval was highest 81∼100 days and significant difference(p<0.01). 8. The numbers of recovered and transferable embryos by seasons were no significant difference.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2011

This study was performed in order to determine optimum flushing solution using the direct embryo collection (DEC). Donors, at random stages of the estrous cycle, received a CIDR. 7 days later, 200 mg FSH was treated with 40, 30, 20, 10 mg FSH levels in declining doses twice daily by intramuscular injection for 4 days. On the 3$^{rd}$ day administration of FSH, 25 mg $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was administered and CIDR was withdrawn. After FSH injections were complete, donors were artificially inseminated twice at 12 hr intervals. The donor cattle received 250 ${\mu}g$ GnRH at time of 1$^{st}$ insemination and embryos were recovered 8 days after the 1$^{st}$ insemination. Embryo collection from superovulated donors were performed to flushing by DEC and conventional method. As a results, the average number of recovered embryos were significantly higher as 19.1${\pm}$1.40 with DEC method than 12.0${\pm}$0.44 with conventional embryo collection method, respectively (p<0.05). Also, The average number of transferable embryos were significantly higher (p<0.05) as 15.8${\pm}$1.72 with DEC method than 6.9${\pm}$0.35 from conventional embryo recovery procedures. Meanwhile, number of recovered embryos and number of recovered transferable embryos following the number of flushing times until 6${dr}$ flushing were significantly higher as 8.6${\pm}$0.53 and 8.6${\pm}$0.53 from 2$^{nd}$ flushing time than other groups (p<0.05). No. of Ear. B stage embryos were significantly higher as 3.9${\pm}$0.90 and 3.9${\pm}$0.90 with 2$^{nd}$ flushing time in total collected embryos and transferable embryos (p<0.05). Com M stage embryos were significantly higher as 3.7${\pm}$1.00 in 2$^{nd}$ flushing time and as 2.2${\pm}$0.76 in 3$^{rd}$ flushing time for recovered embryos (p<0.05). In transferable embryos, Com. M stage embryos were significantly higher (p<0.05) as 3.7${\pm}$1.00 in 2$^{nd}$ flushing time and as 2.2${\pm}$0.76 in 34$^{dr}$ flushing time, also. No. of degradation embryos was significantly higher as 2.2${\pm}$0.72 in 5${rd}$ flushing time, On the other hand, degradation embryos was not observed in transferable embryos (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that DEC method should effective methods for production of in vivo embryos using less flushing solution following perform until 4$^{rd}$ flushing time than conventional embryo collecting method. Also, it might be effectively collection of transferable embryos following more less procedure times compared to conventional embryo recovery methods.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1686-1689
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• 2002

Genetic gains and inbreeding coefficients in a Holstein MOET breeding population were predicted under different conditions relating to the distribution of the number of transferable embryos collected per flush using Monte Carlo simulation. The numbers of transferable embryos collected per flush were determined using five distributions (distributions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) with different aspects and similar means. Distributions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 were assumed to have gamma distribution's parameters ($\alpha$ and $\beta$) of (1 and 4.4), (3 and 1.47), (5 and 0.88), (7 and 0.63) and (9 and 0.49), respectively. Inbreeding rates were statistically significantly different among distributions but genetic gains were not. Relationships between inbreeding rates and variances of family size could be were clearly distinguished. The highest inbreeding coefficients were predicted in distribution 1 with the largest variance of family size, while distributions 5, 7 and 9 with smaller variance of family size had lower inbreeding coefficients.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2013

Embryos formed in vivo were collected from 171 donors housed in Chung Cheong Buk-Do Institute of Livestock and Veterinary Research of the Chungbuk community during the years 2009~2012. We evaluated annual embryo collection, effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), controlled internal drug release (CIDR) and prostaglandin (PG) administration to the donor for superovulation and controlling the estrus cycle, seasonal effects of embryo collection and compared the number of embryos recovered as per the collection days and pregnancy rate. In all, 1,243 embryos were collected from 118 donors with an average of $7.31{\pm}5.35$ embryos per donor, out of which 69.4% were transferable. Dosages of FSH required for inducing superovulation in various donors were compared. Average number of embryos collected from donors administered with 30 AU of FSH ($7.13{\pm}5.74$ per donor) was not significantly different from that of donors who were given an injection of 24 AU of FSH ($7.53{\pm}4.91$ per donor). However, the percentage of transferable embryos in the 30AU FSH-administered group (63.2 %, 449 of 711) was higher than that in the 24AU FSH-administered group (77.8%, 414 of 532). In the group of donors under a natural estrus cycle, the FSH dose administered did not influence the number of transferable embryos produced ($7.49{\pm}6.25$ per donor for 30 AU of FSH vs $7.49{\pm}4.92$ per donor for 24 AU of FSH). However, in donors administered with CIDR and PG for controlling the estrus cycle, the FSH dose affected the average number of transferable embryos collected ($4.25{\pm}2.87$ per donor for 30 AU of FSH vs $8.50{\pm}6.36$ per donor for 24 AU of FSH). We collected embryos from donors 6, 7 or 8 days after artificial insemination (AI). Results showed that the percentage of transferable embryos among those collected 8 days after AI was significantly higher than that among embryos collected 6 or 7 days after AI. Seasonal variations did not affect number of recovered embryos and pregnancy rates in natural estrus cycle and CIDR treatment groups (48.28% and 42.55%) but higher than pregnancy rate of frozen embryos (19.63%). These results indicated that administration of FSH beyond a threshold dose (at least 24 AU) has no beneficial effect on the production embryos and that collection of embryos 7~8 days after AI is optimal for embryo recovery. CIDR treatment induced superovulation in short term and had no influence on the natural estrus cycle. Finally, although good-quality embryos were transferred, freezing significantly reduced the pregnancy rates after transfer.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-238
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• 2002

The present study was undertaken to find out possibilities for superovulation and recovery of freezable/transferable embryo from repeat breeding crossbred cows. For this study a total of 10 Holstein crossbred cows having history of failure of conception even after more than 4~5inseminations were taken and superovulated using Folltropin-V at 100 to 140% dose schedule. The results indicated that out of 10 donors, 8 responded to superovulatory treatment and yielding a total of 94 embryos, out of which 45 were of transferable/freezable quality. The mean ovulations and mean transferable embryos were 11.5$\pm$2.91 and 4.5$\pm$1.66, respectively. These observations suggests that the repeat breeding cows having conception failure after several artificial inseminations can be used as donors for production of embryos and calves through embryo transfer technology.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.229-235
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• 2012

This research was investigated the relationship, in high-producing Holstein donor cows, between the number of the transferable embryos and the blood serum concentrations of Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), glucose and cholesterol, which affect the nutritional state of cows. CIDRs were inserted into the vaginas of twenty two heads of Holstein cows, regardless of estrous cycle. Superovulation was induced using folliclar stimulating hormone (FSH). For artificial insemination, donor cows were injected with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$ and estrus was checked about 48 hours after the injection. Then they were treated with 4 straws of semen 3 times, with 12-hour intervals. Embryos were collected by a non-surgical method 7 days after the first artificial insemination. The total numbers of ova collected from 3 experimental groups whose blood BUN concentrations were <10 mg/dl, 11~18 mg/dl and ${\geq}19$ mg/dl were 8.9, 12.5 and 19.0, respectively; whereas the numbers of transferable embryos were 5.8 + 1.9, 7.9 + 2.8 and 5.2 + 1.4, respectively. When glucose concentration was <60 mg/dl, the total number of collected ova was 9.9, which was smaller than when the concentration was 60~70 mg/dl or ${\geq}70$ mg/dl. When glucose concentration was 60~70 mg/dl, the number of transferable embryos was 7.1 + 2.4, which was slightly larger than the numbers 6.4 + 2.1 and 6.1 + 1.7 that were obtained when the concentrations were <60 mg/dl and ${\geq}70$ mg/dl, respectively ; however, the differences were not significant (p>0.05). When cholesterol concentrations were <150 mg/dl, 150~200 mg/dl and ${\geq}200$ mg/dl, the total numbers of collected ova were 11.2, 11.3 and 8.6, respectively. Whereas the numbers of transferable embryos were 7.1 + 2.1, 7.3 + 1.9 and 5.6 + 1.3, respectively ; however, the differences were again not significant (p>0.05). The result of this research showed no significant difference in ovum recovery rate and the number of transferable embryos according to major metabolite concentrations in high-producing Holstein donor cows. However, it is considered that the failure of maintaining proper nutritional status would cause the fall in in vivo embryo productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.944-948
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to estimate heritability and repeatability for the number of embryos and transferable embryos collected per flush in Holstein population in Hokkaido, Japan. Data consisted of 306 MOET (Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer) treatments on 224 Holstein cows from 1997 to 2000. Variance components for these traits were estimated using the REML procedure. The model included only non-genetic factors that were significant at the 0.05 level, through using generalized linear models, maximum likelihood methods, and stepwise regression procedure as fixed effects and sire and residual for heritabilities, donor and residual for repeatabilities as random effects. The factor identified as important in determining the results was the donor''s estrous condition after superovulation. Heritabilities for the number of embryos and transferable embryos collected per flush were 0.14 and 0.09, respectively. The corresponding repeatabilities were 0.43 and 0.32, respectively. These results show that it was difficult to genetically improve these traits, thus, environmental and physical factors affecting the donor must be improved. These results also show that it is necessary to take the donor''s estrous condition after superovulation and repeatabilities for the number of embryos and transferable embryos collected per flush into account when the genetic gains and inbreeding rates for MOET breeding schemes are predicted by a computer simulation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2012

The objective of this study was to investigate the comparison of transferable embryos and pregnancy rate between Hanwoo and Chickso. The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates on Hanwoo 78%, and Chickso 85%, respectively. The mean number of total embryos are each $14.76{\pm}2.16$ and $6.23{\pm}1.07$. So the mean number of transferable embryos are each $10.94{\pm}1.91$ and $4.58{\pm}1.05$. In addition, the mean number of total Hanwoo embryo from <10 and $10{\leq}$ of corpora luteum was $0.50{\pm}0.50$, $11.56{\pm}1.92$, respectively. In case of Chickso, The mean number of transferable embryo from <10 and $10{\leq}$ of CL was $2.75{\pm}1.39$, $6.00{\pm}1.00$, respectively. The pregnancy rates were Hanwoo 40%, and Chickso 37% following transfer of fresh embryos produced in vivo. Also, the pregnancy rates of Chickso 60% were significantly greater (p<0.05) than the Hanwoo 42.48% following transfer of following transfer of frozen embryos, respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that Chickso may be effectively used for transferable embryos production in Hanwoo. Although the transferable embryos number was not enough, it seems the Chickso greatly affect pregnancy rate. The results indicated that the possibility of transferable embryos from Chickso for embryo transfer could be confirmed in this study. Based on the present findings, it was suggested that it is very important to evaluate in vivo embryo production and pregnancy rate of embryo transfer following superovulation for effective Hanwoo and Chickso production.