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The effect of excess rumen degradable protein during the pre, peri or post-ovulatory period on conception rate and conceptus interferon secretion in naturally cycling ewes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2021

J.M. Wallace ,
R.P. Aitken  and
M.A. Cheyne
J.M. Wallace
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB, United Kingdom
R.P. Aitken
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB, United Kingdom
M.A. Cheyne
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB, United Kingdom
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Extract

Low conception rates in high producing dairy cows have been linked to the feeding of excessive quantities of rumen degradable protein (Elrod & Butler, 1993). Similarly, a recent study in non-lactating ewes, superovulated during seasonal anoestrous, has shown that high rumen degradable protein intakes throughout the preovulatory and early pregnancy period have an adverse effect on embryo survival (Bishonga et al., 1994). The present study aimed to identify the window of oocyte/embryo development which is sensitive to variations in the degradability of maternal protein intake in naturally cycling ewes expressing their normal ovulation rate. Nutritional treatments were applied at three crucial developmental time points spanning (1) preovulatory oocyte maturation (2) fertilisation and early cell division in the oviduct and (3) entry of the embryo into the uterus, hatching and the transition from a spherical blastocyst to an elongating conceptus.

Type
Sheep
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science , Volume 1996 , March 1996 , pp. 181
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Science 1996

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References

Bishonga, C, Robinson, J.J., McEvoy, T.G., Aitken, R.P., Findlay, P.A. & Robertson, I. (1994) The effects of rumen degradable protein in ewes on ovulation rate, fertilisation and embryo survival in vivo and during in vitro culture. Animal Production 58: 447.Google Scholar
Elrod, C.C. & Butler, W.R. (1993) Reduction in fertility and alteration of uterine pH in heifers fed excess ruminally degradable protein. Journal of Animal Science 71: 694–701.10.2527/1993.713694xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallace, J.M., Aitken, R.P. & Cheyne, M.A. (1995) Conceptus interferon in uterine flush, endometrial concentrations of oxytocin receptors and prostaglandin F2α release in vitro after transfer of conceptuses to ewes induced to ovulate at 28 days postpartum. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 103: 299–305.10.1530/jrf.0.1030299CrossRefGoogle Scholar