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An evaluation of MOET in Suffolk sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

W S Dingwall ,
W A C McKelvey ,
J Mylne  and
G Simm
W S Dingwall
Affiliation:
The Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
W A C McKelvey
Affiliation:
The Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
J Mylne
Affiliation:
The Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
G Simm
Affiliation:
The Scottish Agricultural College Edinburgh Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
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Extract

SAC Edinburgh has a long established breed improvement programme to increase the lean growth rate of Suffolk sheep. Studies commenced in 1989 to evaluate the extra genetic gain which could be achieved through the application of multiple ovulation-embryo transfer (MOET). Theoretical studies show that rates of genetic progress in sheep could be increased by 100% through use of MOET to increase selection intensity amongst females and reduce female generation intervals (Smith, 1986). However, to achieve these levels of improvement requires good embryo transfer rates (10 progeny per donor) at 6 to 8 months of age. Smith (1986) identified that current transfer rates fell well short of these required by his calculations. Given that minimally invasive techniques for the recovery and transfer of embryos by laparoscopy are available (McKelvey, Robinson and Aitken, 1985a), the main impediment to achievement of the embryo transfer rates required is the low and variable superovulatory response in donor ewes. Previous studies investigating superovulatory drugs to increase the ovulation rate of donor ewes in MOET programmes identified Ovagen (Immuno-Chemical Products), as the most potent product (Dingwall, Fernie, FitzSimons and McKelvey, 1991). This trial reports the use of Ovagen in a large scale MOET programme applied to Suffolk ewes.

Type
Genetics
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1993: Winter meeting , March 1993 , pp. 103
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1993

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References

Dingwall, W S, Fernie, K, FitzSimons, J and McKelvey, W A C (1991). Animal Production 52: 612–613.Google Scholar
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