Journal of Animal Science, Vol 76, Issue 2 360-363, Copyright © 1998 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Nonsurgical embryo collection in goats treated with prostaglandin F2alpha and oxytocin

R. J. Pereira, B. Sohnrey and W. Holtz
Institute for Animal Husbandry and Genetics, University of Goettingen, Germany.

Embryos were collected transcervically from 38 unanesthetized goats in a standing position. Goats of the Boer breed were superovulated by injecting them with 16 mg of pFSH containing 40% LH. Collection took place 6 d after the last mating. A luteolytic dose of PGF2alpha was injected 16, 8, or 0 h before flushing the uterine lumen. One half of each group received an additional injection of oxytocin just before flushing. The flushing catheter was introduced transcervically, and 24 flushings were performed, with a 2-h pause between the first 12 and the last 12 flushings. Injection of PGF2alpha 16 or 8 h before transcervical embryo collection resulted in a significant increase (P < .001, chi-square test) in embryo recovery (-16 h: 91% with oxytocin, 85% without; -8 h: 91% with oxytocin, 80% without) compared with an injection at the time of collection (52% with oxytocin, 66% without). The recovery rate which was estimated as the percentage of embryos recovered relative to the number of corpora lutea counted endoscopically, was comparable to that achieved by surgical collection. There were no differences among groups with regard to embryo morphology. Embryos were transferred, and healthy kids were born. The nonsurgical collection of caprine embryos may be considered a viable alternative to conventional surgical procedures.

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