Title: Effects of insemination–ovulation interval on fertilization rates and embryo characteristics in dairy cattle
Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine effects of the interval between insemination and ovulation on fertilization and embryo characteristics (quality scored as good, fair, poor and degenerate; morphology; number of cell cycles and accessory sperm number) in dairy cattle. Time of ovulation was assessed by ultrasonography (every 4 h). Cows were artificially inseminated once between 36 h before ovulation and 12 h after ovulation. In total 122 oocytes/embryos were recovered 7 d after ovulation. Insemination–ovulation interval (12 h-intervals) affected fertilization and the percentages of good embryos. Fertilization rates were higher when AI was performed between 36–24 and 24–12 h before ovulation (85% and 82%) compared to AI after ovulation (56%). AI between 24 and 12 h before ovulation resulted in higher percentages of good embryos (68%) compared to AI after ovulation (6%). Insemination–ovulation interval had no effect on number of accessory sperm cells and number of cell cycles when corrected for embryo quality. This study showed that the insemination–ovulation interval with a high probability of fertilization is quite long (from 36 to 12 h before ovulation). However, the insemination–ovulation interval in which this fertilized oocyte has a high probability of developing into a good embryo is shorter (24–12 h before ovulation).
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-12-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 94
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