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Use of Embryo Transfer to Induce Twinning in Beef Cattle: Embryo Survival Rate, Gestation Length, Birth Weight and Weaning Weight of Calves^1,2,3,4,

The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in 1985 and 1986 at the Eastern Ohio Resource Development Center, Belle Valley, to examine the feasibility of using embryo transfer to induce twinning and to examine the influence of twinning on traits of the cow and calf. Embryos were collected from a total of 14 superovulated Angus donors on two dates each in 1985 and 1986 and were transferred to Angus recipients. A total of 124 embryos were transferred to 79 recipients, with 43 (34.7%) calves born alive. Seven of 45 (15.6%) recipients implanted with two embryos produced twins. In no case did both halves of the 15 embryos that were split to produce identical twins and implanted in the same recipient survive to birth. Proportion of calves born alive did not differ among transfer codes 3 (nonsplit embryos from two different donors implanted in separate uterine horns of the same recipient), 6 (nonsplit embryos from one embryo flush implanted in separate uterine horns of the same recipient) and 7 (nonsplit embryos from two different donors implanted in the same uterine horn of one recipient). Surgical transfers tended to result in a higher proportion of embryos surviving to birth (.43 vs .21 ; P = .16) and a higher twinning rate (.29 vs .04 ; P = .36) than did nonsurgical transfers. Age of recipient did not influence embryo survival (P = .98) or twinning rate (P = .99). Gestation length was 5 d shorter (P < .01) for twin calves than for singles. Singles were 9 kg heavier (P < .01) at birth and 32 kg heavier (P < .01) at weaning than twins. However, cows raising twins produced 108 kg (51%) more total weaning weight than did cows raising singles.

¹ Salaries and research support provided by State and Federal Funds appropriated to the Ohio Agric. Res. and Dev. Center, The Ohio State Univ. Journal article no. 44-88.

² The experiment was a contributing project to North Central Regional Project NC-1, "The Improvement of Beef Cattle Through Breeding Methods."

³ The authors wish to thank R. M. McConnell, J. D. Wells and the late C. B. Boyles for their excellent technical assistance.

⁴ Semen was donated by Select Sires, Inc., Plain City, OH.

⁵ Anim. Sci. Dept., The Ohio State Univ., Columbus 43210.