水牛性控冷冻精液授精效果的研究

为优化推广水牛性控冷冻精液人工授精技术,本研究分析了不同类型、胎次、年龄的受体母牛及不输精员对水牛性控冷冻精液人工授精产犊率的影响。收集武鸣县8个村级牛人工授精点3 029头受体母水牛X性控冷冻精液人工授精产犊数据,利用卡方检验方法对所收集数据进行统计分析。结果表明:本研究3 029头受体母牛经人工授精后产犊率为44.2%(1340/3029),产母犊率为82.3%(1103/1340)。以本地水牛及杂交水牛作为受体母牛,杂交水牛人工授精产犊率极显著高于本地沼泽型水牛(P0.01)。不同年龄受体母牛人工授精产犊率差异不显著(P0.05),但存在组间差异。不同胎次受体牛人工授精产犊率差异不显著(P0.05),但存在组间差异。不同输精员人工授精产犊率差异极显著(P0.01)。本研究结果表明不同类型、年龄、胎次的受体母牛及输精员皆会影响到水牛性控冷冻精液人工授精效果。进一步加强受体母牛选择、加强输精员培训是今后水牛性控冷冻精液人工授精大范围推广应用不可忽视的环节。     

西门塔尔奶牛一胎双犊生产性能分析

奶牛一胎双犊可说是有利有弊,一般认为,奶牛一胎双犊,对增加优良种牛后裔有利,应当提倡。也有人认为,奶牛产双犊,如果是异性双犊,母犊大多不孕,而同性双犊,又因出生重偏低,而影响日后生产,应当避免。本文旨在通过对呼图壁种牛场1995-2001年西门塔尔奶牛(荷斯坦奶牛报告较多)一胎双犊有关资料的整理分析,反映一胎双犊在西门塔尔奶牛的胎次分布、双胎率、双胎犊初生重,并重点比较产单胎母牛及产双胎母牛的生产性能,对奶牛实际生产提供依据。     

人工诱导母牛一胎双犊的研究

应用PMSG、HCG、氯前列烯醇,处理肉用母牛以期达到促使卵巢同时排双卵、产双犊的目的。本试验共分三组,每组5头。在母牛发情周期的不同时期,按不同的剂量及注射次数。对母牛进行药物处理。其中I、III两组产犊结果相同,5头母牛其中产单犊3头,产双犊1头,产三犊1头,双胎率20%,三胎率20%,多胎率达40%(P<0.001)。     

利用肉牛自然交配+胚胎移植诱导1胎双犊(肉、奶牛)初报

用发情期杂交母牛先进行自然交配,第7 d在有黄体一侧子宫角移植1枚奶牛IVF冷冻胚胎(A组)和母牛发情的第7d在有黄体一侧子宫角同时移植2枚奶牛IVF冷冻胚胎(B组)的方法进行1胎双犊生产试验.结果A组(n=2)有1头妊娠,妊娠率50%,并于2003年2月8日成功产下双犊,其中1头为肉牛公犊、1头为奶牛母犊;B组(n=2)有1头妊娠,妊娠率50%,但到期没有产犊.     

应用外源激素促使母牛产双犊的效果观察

牛是单胎动物 ,大部分一胎产一个犊 ,产双犊的母牛很少见。为了提高受胎率和产仔率 ,近 2年来 ,巴彦县部分乡镇家畜繁育站 ,应用外源激素类药物促进母牛发情或超数排卵 ,取得了明显效果。1998丰乐乡和龙泉镇等家畜繁育站 ,应用外源激素注射母牛 2 38头 ,1999年有 13头母牛产下双犊 ,占注射母牛头数 5 4 % ,取得了显著效果。具体做法如下 :1　材料和方法1 1　试验药物宁波市激素制品厂生产的促排卵素 3号、促排卵素 2号 ;上海生物化学制药厂生产的绒毛膜促性腺激素。1 2　应用范围本地可繁母牛、改良母牛。1 3　方法及输精时间1 3 1　促排卵…     

牛配种时阳光对犊牛性别的影响初探

通过配种母牛头向太阳进行人工授精后，调查的61头妊娠牛产母犊数（38头）多于产公犊数（23头）（p〈0．05），说明该项处理可提高母牛产母犊的比率。     

应用促卵泡素提高牛双犊率的试验

2001年以来,我们进行了诱导母牛双胎生产试验,具体是选择卵巢上部有间情周期黄体存在、生殖器官无疾病的母牛,将12～14毫克促卵泡素(FSH),在3日内分6次肌注投给。供试牛在配种时期随机选择性功能活动正常。共选择处理18头。一胎双犊母牛12头,双犊率为66.67%(12/18),一胎单犊母牛6头,单胎率为33.33%(6/18),共产犊30头,总产犊率为166.67%(30/18)。12头产双犊母牛中,有3头同胎同时产两个不同品种的后代。现报告如下:1试验牛的选择供试牛只均是双庆乡太安村牛场和村民个人饲养的2～5周岁可繁母牛,其中:奶×本一代改良牛12头,本地黄牛6头;经产…     

AI后移植IVF胚诱发黄牛－胎双犊的研究

在黄牛自然发情人工授精后的第７ｄ，再移植１枚体外受精胚胎，使受体牛同时怀有自身胎儿和与自身无血缘关系的胎儿，从而诱发一胎双犊。共对７头受精牛进行了人工诱发一胎双犊的处理，结果有３头受体牛妊娠分娩，妊娠率为３／７，产犊４头，双犊率为１／３。     

黄牛双胎素的研究

黄牛为单胎动物，对豫西７５０００头秦川及秦川杂种母牛连续两年（１９９０～１９９１）的调查资料表明，黄牛的自然双胎率为０．００７８％。１９９０～１９９２年，我们利用超数排卵原理，在豫西地区对５１８头秦川及秦川杂种母牛进行试验，研究出了一种复合激素配方。将该复合激素于发情周期第１７～１８天注射于２０７头母牛的左臀部肌肉，待发情后配种，使母牛每个情期双卵发育率达到７５．８４％，双卵排放率达到７０．０４％，受双胎率达到４３．３１％，活产双犊率达到２２．９２％。试验证明，使用该双胎素可大大提高母牛双胎率，为加速养牛业的发展开辟了一条新途径。     

奶牛双胎的弊端及对策

牛是典型的单胎动物，通常一胎只产一犊，自然状态下双胎率仅为1％～4．6％，繁殖效率低，极大的制约了养牛业的发展。一胎双犊技术可以有效地提高繁殖效率，扩大种群．减少基础母牛的饲养成本，增加经济效益。近年来，随着人们对母牛繁殖机理研究的深入和生物技术的发展，人工诱导可使母牛双胎率达到20％～70％。     

Development of frozen-thawed demi-embryos and production of identical twin calves of different ages.

The percentages of morphologically transferable embryos obtained from frozen-thawed demi-embryos which were embedded with or without agar, and from those with or without zonae pellucidae were 26.3% (5/19), 36.4% (8/22), 39.5% (15/38) and 40.0% (22/55), respectively. No significant differences were observed between these groups. Development to calves of frozen-thawed demi-embryos with or without zonae pellucidae was 25.0% (3/12) and 26.7% (4/15), respectively. There was also no significant difference between them. On the trial for production of identical twin calves of different ages, the pregnancy rates of fresh and frozen demi-embryos after transfer were 69.2% (9/13) and 11.1% (1/9), respectively. Out of 13 fresh demi-embryos and 9 frozen demi-embryos transferred, only one pair of identical twin male calves of different ages were produced. This frozen-thawed demi-embryo was stored for 43 days in liquid nitrogen before thawing and transfer. These twin calves were confirmed to be identical by blood typing. Although these calves had different birth dates, their growth rates indicated similar developmental patterns. We suggest that it is possible to produce identical twin calves of different ages. This possibility would be useful for predicting the sex, milk producing ability and progeny test of a pair of demi-embryos before a decision to transfer the other half of a pair is made.     

Pregnancy Rates in Lactating Holstein–Friesian Cows after Artificial Insemination with Sexed Sperm

The effects of artificial insemination (AI) using sexed sperm on pregnancy rates have seldom been studied in lactating dairy cows on commercial dairy farms. We evaluated pregnancy results after AI of 306 lactating dairy cows, of which 157 were inseminated with 2x10(6) frozen/thawed sexed sperm and 149 with 15x10(6) frozen/thawed unsexed sperm. The average pregnancy and calving rates were 21.0% and 20% for the sexed-sperm AIs and 46% and 45% for the unseparated control-sperm AIs respectively (p<0.001). The proportion of female calves derived from sexed-sperm AI was 82% compared with 49% for control AI (p<0.01). The proportion of live and healthy calves in single births was 100% for sexed-sperm AI and 97% for control AI (p>0.05). Our results indicate that AI with low-dose sexed sperm under field conditions in commercial dairy herds without oestrus synchronization results in significantly reduced pregnancy rates compared with normal-dose AI. Improved insemination strategies combined with increased sperm doses are needed before the use of sexed sperm can be of any significant benefit for the dairy and beef industry.     

Productivity and profitability of twin births in beef cattle

Data from 1,277 single and 85 twin calvings, occurring in both spring and fall from 1980 through 1987, were used to examine the productivity and profitability associated with twin births in beef cattle. Pregnancies in pure and crossbred cattle resulted from both AI and embryo transfer. Cows and calves were confinement-housed. Cows were individually fed to specification. Calves were given ad libitum access to creep feed and those born in 1986 and 1987 were fed to slaughter. The influence of birth number of gestation length, total calf birth and weaning weights, lactation yield, and cow fed intake during both the dry and lactating periods were examined. Twin-bearing cows had their gestation length shortened by 6.4 d (2%); yielded 25.5 (59) and 186.0 kg (73%) more weight of calf at birth and weaning, respectively; had lactation yield and lactation feed intake increased by 25 and 20%, respectively; and had precalving (dry) period feed intake no different from their single-bearing counterparts (P = .12). Postweaning growth was not different for single and twin calves (P = .50); twin gain, relative to initial size, was higher. Feedlot feed intake of twins was 85% of that for singletons (P = .20). Twins were 90% of singleton live weight at slaughter and yielded 93% of singleton hot carcass weight (P = .12). Twins were slightly older and significantly leaner at slaughter. Returns less feed costs showed twin births to be associated with increased profit for cow-calf programs. Returns less feed and overhead costs were higher for twin calves than for singles in the feedlot.     

The effect of artificial insemination prior to transfer of a limited number of vitrified and warmed porcine embryos by open pulled straw (OPS) method on their survival ability for farrowing

Embryo transfer (ET) of 20 porcine expanded blastocysts (ExBs) vitrified and warmed (VW) by open pulled straw (OPS) to a recipient allows stable piglet production. The efficiency of artificial insemination (AI) prior to ET of 10 VW ExBs for piglet production was investigated. For one trial, 10–15 VW ExBs from single donor were assigned, 10 were used for ET and the remains were assessed for their in vitro viability. In the non‐AI/ET group, 10 were transferred to each of five recipients. As AI/ET group, 10 were transferred to each of five recipients after AI. In AI/non‐ET group, only AI was performed to seven gilts. In the non‐AI/ET group, the pregnancy rate was 40%, but none of them farrowed. In the AI/ET group, all recipients produced piglets. Four (80.0%) delivered piglets from transferred VW ExBs. The survival rate of VW ExBs to term was 20.0% (10/50). In the AI/non‐ET group, six of the seven gilts farrowed. There was no difference in in vitro viability between the non‐AI/ET and AI/ ET groups (62.5% and 68.3%, respectively). AI prior to ET can be an appropriate way to maintain pregnancy and assist the development of a low number of VW ExBs to term.     

牛胚胎冷冻与移植受胎技术研究

本文进行了牛胚胎冷冻与移植受胎技术研究。摸索出了提高牛冷冻胚胎成活率和移植受胎率的综合配套技术。牛冷冻胚胎解冻成活率达８４．４％（５７／１２２）。其中１９９６年移植受胎率达到５５．６％（２０／３６）。Ａ级胚胎达以７７．８％（２１／２７），并在我国首次获得中国荷斯坦牛冷冻胚胎的二分胚的同孵孪生牛犊。且达到４２．９％（３／７）移植受胎率。     

Induction of twinning in dairy or crossbred heifers by ipsilateral frozen embryo transfer

Induction of twinning by ipsilateral nonsurgical transfer of frozen two or demi-embryos was attempted in 129 virgin dairy or crossbred heifers that had been kept under a stable in our station (group-1), mountain field (group-2) and private farm (group-3) conditions. Ninety seven heifers (75%) were diagnosed pregnant by rectal palpation at 35 to 60 days of gestation; 86 heifers produced 37 sets of twins and 49 single calves. Pregnancy rate of group-1 was lower compared to those of groups-2 and -3 (63%, 88%, 78%, respectively). Abortion and mortality rates of group-3 were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than those of groups-1 and -2 (8% and 6%, 12% and 16%, 18% and 24%). Twin calves had a lower birth weight (P less than 0.05) than singles. But there was no significant difference in weight between singles and twin calves at 270-330 days of age. Dystocia and difficult delivery were not observed in females producing twins. The incidence of retained placentas in twin calving cows (17%) was higher than that of single calving cows (2%). The interval to conceive postpartum was longer in twin calving cows (95 +/- 41 days) than in single calving cows (87 +/- 26 days). Gestation length was 5.0 days shorter for twin calving cows (P less than 0.05).     

Effects of twinning on postpartum reproductive performance in cattle selected for twin births

The effects of twinning, dystocia, retained placenta, and body weight on postpartum reproduction were evaluated for 3,370 single and 1,014 twin births. Females were bred by AI for 40 d followed by 20 or 30 d of natural service with equal numbers bred and calved in spring and fall. Percentage of dams cyclic by the end of the AI period was lower (P<.05) for dams birthing and nursing a single calf (92.4%) than for dams birthing twins and nursing zero (98.7%) or two (94.7%) calves. Whereas the interval from parturition to first estrus was shorter (P<.01) for dams birthing and nursing a single (56.9 d) than for dams birthing twins and nursing one (68.5 d) or two (69.6 d) calves, length of the interval was further reduced by dystocia in nonlactating dams of either twins or singles (type of birth x dystocia, P<.05). Ensuing pregnancy rates were also affected by type of birth and dystocia. Without dystocia, dams birthing and nursing a single calf had a higher pregnancy rate (79.2%) than dams birthing twins and nursing one (61.7%) or two (66.3%) calves, whereas the lower ensuing pregnancy rates associated with dystocia in dams of singles (71.9%) resulted in similar rates among dams of singles and twins with dystocia (type of birth x dystocia; P<.01). Having a retained placenta resulted in a lower incidence of (93.5 vs. 96.4%, with vs. without; P<.05) and a longer interval to (64.7 vs. 59.2 d; P<.01) estrus while reducing subsequent pregnancy rates (X = 9.6%) in 3 of the 7 yr evaluated (retained placenta x year, P<.01). Because all parous females were bred during the same calendrical period, the shorter gestation length for twin calves (275.6 vs. 281.3 d) resulted in a longer interval from parturition to conception for twin births, whereas means for conception date differed by only 2 d between dams of twins and singles. Furthermore, a reduction (P<.01) in the interval to conception occurred with dystocia in dams of singles (89.3 vs. 85.0 d, without vs. with dystocia) and of twins nursed by zero (116.9 vs. 83.5 d), one (100.2 vs. 92.8 d), or two (96.1 vs. 97.2 d) calves. Another detriment to fertility was the higher incidence of fetal mortality or abortions associated with twin vs. single pregnancies (12.4 vs. 3.5%; P<.01). However, despite the lower conception rates for dams of twins, the increased prolificacy provides an opportunity to increase total beef production with a twinning technology.     

Births of freemartins derived from embryos reconstructed with ear fibroblasts.

Although the combination of artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET) is effective for preventing large offspring syndrome in clone cattle production, it may cause freemartinism. In this study, 51 reconstructed embryos were transferred to artificially inseminated recipients. Of those 9 twin pregnancies, three delivered male and female offsprings. The females had tufts of long coarse hair and short blind pouch at the vaginal end. At necropsy, hypoplastic testicles and epididymis, which connected to the uterus through the spermatic cord, were found and seminal vesicles were also noted. All females had mixed sex chromosome configuration (60, XX and 60, XY). These results suggest that the combined ET program can cause freemartinism, which reduces the efficiency of clone cattle production.     

A case of an embryo transfer calf infected with bovine leukemia virus from the recipient cow

A case was discovered where the embryo transfer (ET) calf had been infected with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) from the recipient cow. The embryo was transferred from the BLV-uninfected donor cow to the recipient cow. However, the BLV test had not been performed to the recipient cow before ET was performed. The ET calf was raised in a calf hatch from birth to 1-month old and was given the recipient cow's colostrum and milk artificially. The ET calf was raised with the two other calves from a 1-month old to a 6-month old. The BLV test was performed to the ET calf by agar gel precipitation (AGP) and passive haemagglutination (PHA) assay when the ET calf was 6 months old. Because the ET calf was positive, the BLV test was performed to the recipient cow, the two other calves raised with the ET calf and the two dams of the two other calves. Because the recipient cow only was positive at the time of the first test, we judged that the ET calf had been infected with BLV from the recipient cow. The importance of the BLV test being carried out on the recipient cow for the prevention of enzootic bovine leukemia in a case of ET was recognised.     

Determination of the Genital Tubercle Migration Period in Morada Nova Sheep Foetuses by Ultrasonography

The aim of this study was to determine the period of genital tubercle (GT) migration using ultrasonography in Morada Nova sheep foetuses (n = 117) from natural mating (NM) and frozen embryo transfer (ET) to determine the window when foetal sexing can be determined. The examinations were performed using transrectal ultrasonography with a dual-frequency linear transducer (6.0 and 8.0 MHz) from day 30-54 of pregnancy at 48-h intervals. The period of GT migration of foetuses produced by NM varied from 36 to 46 days of pregnancy, resulting in an average of 39.5 +/- 2.9 days. For foetuses derived from ET, GT migration varied from 42 to 52 days of pregnancy with an average of 48.5 +/- 3.3 days, being possible the GT of foetuses from ET start to migrate 96 h later even if they are of the same gender. Migration of the GT occurred earlier (p < 0.05) in foetuses produced by NM and sexing accuracy for triplet pregnancies (77.8%) was significantly inferior (p < 0.05) to single (100%) and twin (92.9%) pregnancies for foetuses derived by NM. The results allow one to conclude that foetal sexing can be done from the 50th day onwards in foetuses produced by NM and from the 55th day onwards in foetuses derived from ET, and that multiple pregnancies compromise the sexing accuracy by ultrasonography.