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Embryo survival rate in cattle: a major limitation to the achievement of high fertility

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

J.M. Sreenan ,
M.G. Diskin  and
D.G. Morris
J.M. Sreenan
Affiliation:
Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc, Athenry Research Centre, Galway, Ireland
M.G. Diskin
Affiliation:
Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc, Athenry Research Centre, Galway, Ireland
D.G. Morris
Affiliation:
Animal Reproduction Department, Teagasc, Athenry Research Centre, Galway, Ireland
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Abstract

Over the past 30-40 years genetic improvement and better nutrition of dairy cows have led to a significant increase in milk production per cow but this is associated with an increase in cow reproductive wastage. Reproductive wastage in the dairy herd particularly in a seasonal calving system, results in a serious financial loss. Early embryo death accounts for a significant portion of cow reproductive wastage and information is becoming available on the extent and timing of early embryo loss and on aspects of embryo growth, development, metabolism and viability. Such information is necessary to facilitate objective investigation of factors that contribute to early embryo death. For heifers and moderate yielding dairy cows published estimates of fertilisation rate of about 90%, and of average calving rates of about 55% indicate an embryonic and foetal mortality rate of about 40%. Of this total loss, 70 to 80% is sustained between days 8 and 16 after insemination, a further 10% between days 16 and 42 and a further 5-8% between day 42 and term. In high yielding cows there is some evidence of a higher increment of late embryo loss. During the period of greatest embryo loss, between days 8 and 16 after fertilisation, there is a dramatic increase in the growth rate and protein content of embryos, particularly from day 13 to day 16 when the increase is exponential. There is evidence that from day 13 to 15 cattle embryos undergo time and developmental stage-dependent changes in the rate of de-novo protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation. It seems that by the time cattle embryos have elongated they have passed their maximal synthetic activity in terms of protein synthesis and phosphorylation, which seems to occur at day 13 or earlier. While there is little published information on the causes of embryo loss it is clear that even a short-term reduction in energy intake near the time of insemination can significantly reduce embryo survival rate. Abo and low post-ovulatory systemic progesterone has been associated with increased embryo loss. Recent evidence shows that elevated systemic concentrations of ammonia and urea per se do not reduce embryo survival rate but there may be other modifying factors, such as negative energy balance, operating in the high yielding dairy cow that lead to reduced fertility when the systemic concentrations of urea and or, ammonia are high.

Type
Invited Papers
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 26 , Issue 1: Fertility in the High Producing Dairy Cow , January 2001 , pp. 93 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 2001

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