TITLE:
Effects of Feeding OmniGen-AF® during Superovulation on in Vitro Development of Embryos Recovered from Donor Beef Cows
AUTHORS:
Alexandria P. Snider, Derek J. Mclean, Alfred R. Menino Jr.
KEYWORDS:
Bovine, OmniGen, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Embryo Development
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.11 No.1,
January
27,
2021
ABSTRACT: Embryo quality is crucial when selecting embryos for
transfer. Variation in quality may be attributed to poor oocytes, semen,
stress, inflammation, and potential immune system dysregulation. OmniGen-AF®
(OG) feeding supports immune system function and animal health. Our laboratory
recently reported lower percent degenerate embryos recovered and increased
plasma progesterone in beef cattle donors fed OG during superovulation. In vitro development of
embryos recovered from donor cows fed OG prior to collection is presented here.
Embryos were recovered from 24 beef cows assigned to four treatment groups: 0 g
OG/hd/d and 200 mg Folltropin®-V (FSH) (0/200); 0
g OG/hd/d and 400 mg FSH (0/400), 56 g OG/hd/d, 200 mg FSH (56/200) and 56 g
OG/hd/d and 400 mg FSH (56/400). Good to excellent quality early blastocysts
were cultured for 8 d. and development through hatching, embryonic volume and
plasminogen activator (PA) production were quantified. The complete protocol
was repeated 90 - 120 d later as Replicate 2. Optimal development was observed
by embryos recovered from 0/200 cows where percent blastocysts hatching was
greater (P compared to 56/200 and 0/400 cows and embryonic volume was greatest (P was similar (P
> 0.10) to 56/400 cows and embryos recovered from 56/400 cows in Replicate 1
produced more (P in vitro embryo development similar to that observed for 0/200
cows.