COMMERCIAL ASPECTS OF OOCYTE RETRIEVAL AND IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) FOR EMBRYO PRODUCTION IN PROBLEM COWS

Ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration and in vitro embryo production techniques were employed to retrieve oocytes and produce embryos from 200 problem donor female cattle who had not been successful in conventional embryo production. Weekly oocyte retrieval resulted in an average of 6.3 oocytes per aspiration and FSH stimulation for 3 days prior to oocyte retrieval increased the oocyte retrieval rate to 8.6 oocytes per aspiration. In total 1,006 retrieval sessions were performed and 9,120 follicles were aspirated and 6,344 oocytes were retrieved (69.6%). IVF procedures were carried out on 5,986 oocytes and produced 2,677 cleavage stage embryos (44.7%) and 984 viable embryos (16.4%) of which 813 transfers were made and 325 pregnancies were detected (40%). Ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration and IVF was successful in producing pregnancies from previously non-productive problem donors.