Potential use of ovum pick-up for embryo production and breeding in cattle.

The efficacy of transvaginal ultrasound-guided puncturing of ovarian follicles for collecting immature oocytes in cattle was studied. Three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of puncturing on follicle recruitment and on the number of oocytes collected. Puncture sessions were executed twice weekly at regular intervals of 3 and 4 d respectively. The oocytes were matured, fertilized and allowed to develop in vitro and the number of transferable embryos was recorded. The health of the cows was checked daily. In Experiment 1, dairy cows (n=10) were punctured over a period of 5 mo, and the collected oocytes were fertilized with the semen of 1 bull. In Experiment 2, oocytes were collected from one 12 year old high pedigree dairy cow and an one month pregnant cow were punctured. The oocytes of the old cow were fertilized with semen of 8 different bulls. In Experiment 3, beef cows (n=6) were punctured over a 2 mo period and the semen of 2 different bulls of the same breed was used to fertilize the oocytes from 3 of these cows. In Experiment 1, 14.5 +/- 0.4 (mean +/- SEM) follicles were punctured per session, and 8.0 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SEM) oocytes were recovered. A mean of 16% of the oocytes developed into transferable embryos with a pregnancy rate of 40%. The results did not differ between the months of the experiments, indicating that the transvaginal puncturing method can be used successfully over a 5 mo period. No detrimental effects were observed after clinical and post mortem examinations, nor did breed, age or reproductive status appear to affect the results. However, large differences were observed between individual cows and between cow/bull combinations.