Embryo Transfer: Beef Part 2

Summary

This script outlines the process of embryo transfer in cattle, highlighting its advantages for rapid offspring production, genetic merit enhancement, and economic benefits. It details the steps from superovulation and artificial insemination to embryo collection, evaluation, freezing, thawing, and transfer into recipient cows. The procedure involves careful handling to ensure sterility and requires recipient cows to be healthy and fertile. Embryo transfer is presented as a valuable tool for progressive cattle breeders to improve herd performance.

Takeaways

• 🍼 Embryo transfer is a technique used to increase the production of offspring from valuable females rapidly.
• 🧬 It allows for the sufficient number of calves for accurate progeny testing of females and helps in the propagation of rare breeds.
• 💰 The process is economically beneficial for exporting animals and increasing the value of the herd through offspring from genetically superior parents.
• 🐄 The donor cow and sire must have high genetic merit to ensure the offspring's value to the herd.
• 🏆 Recipient cows, while not genetically affecting the calves, should be healthy, fertile, and have good milking ability to contribute to the calf's weaning weights.
• 💉 The donor cow is superovulated using synchronized injections of follicle-stimulating hormone during standing estrus and is artificially inseminated.
• 🧊 After collection, embryos are evaluated for viability and then frozen in liquid nitrogen for storage or shipping.
• ⏱ The thawing process involves a four-step procedure to rehydrate the frozen embryos before transfer.
• 🔄 The transfer process requires careful handling to prevent contamination and ensure the embryo is correctly placed within the recipient.
• 🛠️ An epidural anesthesia is used on the recipient to relax the reproductive tract and prevent rectal contractions during the transfer.
• 🔄 The transfer gun is used to insert the embryo into the uterine horn of the recipient, a process that should be rapid and precise.
• 📈 Embryo transfer is a valuable procedure for progressive cattle breeders looking to enhance the performance and profitability of their herds.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the third well in the embryo transfer process described in the script?

The third well is used for a final wash of the embryo, containing only sucrose, before it is loaded into the straw for transfer.

How long is the embryo left in the third well before moving to the fourth well?

The embryo is left in the third well for an additional 6 minutes as per the timer set for the process.

What is the role of the qu CC straw in the embryo transfer process?

The qu CC straw is used to load the embryo for transfer. It needs to be identified with the particular embryo being transferred and is attached to a 1 cc tuberculin syringe for the procedure.

How is the embryo drawn into the straw during the transfer process?

The embryo is drawn into the straw by creating a series of air pockets and bands of fluid, which are pulled through the straw after the tip is placed into the solution.

What is the purpose of the cotton plug in the straw during the embryo transfer process?

The cotton plug in the straw is activated by drawing up the solution, which then seals the straw, making it ready for transfer.

Why is an epidural anesthesia used for the recipient in the embryo transfer process?

Epidural anesthesia is used to prevent rectal contractions, relax the reproductive tract, and ensure a smooth transfer process for the recipient.

How much anane solution is typically used for epidural anesthesia per recipient?

Approximately 5 cc's of the 2% anane solution is used per recipient for the epidural anesthesia.

What is the significance of the plastic shames during the transfer gun insertion in the recipient?

The plastic shames helps to break when the transfer gun touches the cervix, allowing the gun to be gently worked through the cervix without the need to spread the vulva.

How far into the uterine horn should the transfer gun be inserted during the embryo transfer?

The transfer gun should be slid approximately 3 to 4 inches into the uterine horn to ensure proper placement of the embryo.

What are some advantages of embryo transfer mentioned in the script?

Advantages of embryo transfer include rapid production of offspring from valuable females, sufficient numbers for accurate progeny testing, propagation of rare breeds, and a more economical way to export animals.

What are the criteria for selecting donor and recipient cows for embryo transfer?

The donor cow and sire must have high genetic merit, while the recipient cows must be sound, fertile, have good dispositions, and good milking ability to contribute to the calf's weaning weights.

What is the process for preparing frozen embryos for transfer as described in the script?

Frozen embryos are thawed and rehydrated in a four-step process before being transferred to the recipient females for gestation and parturition.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Embryo Transfer Process and Preparation

This paragraph outlines the detailed steps of the embryo transfer process in cattle. It begins with the preparation of the embryo in well number three with sucrose and a six-minute timer. The embryo is then moved to well number four for the final wash before being loaded into a quarantine cc straw. The straw is prepared by attaching it to a 1 cc tuberculin syringe, drawing up the solution, and sealing it with a cotton plug. The paragraph also covers the use of epidural anesthesia for the recipient cow to relax the reproductive tract and prevent contamination during the transfer. The transfer itself involves inserting the gun through the vulva and cervix into the uterine horn to deposit the embryo. The importance of selecting genetically superior donor and recipient cows is emphasized, as well as the process of superovulation and artificial insemination of the donor cow.

05:02

🌟 Benefits and Considerations of Embryo Transfer

The second paragraph focuses on the benefits of embryo transfer in cattle breeding, such as rapid production of offspring from valuable females, sufficient numbers for progeny testing, propagation of rare breeds, and economical export of animals. It also discusses the advantages of this procedure for progressive cattle breeders, encouraging them to consider it as part of new management practices to enhance herd performance. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the thawing and rehydration process for frozen embryos before they are transferred to recipient females for gestation and parturition.

Keywords

💡Embryo Transfer

Embryo transfer is a reproductive technique where embryos are removed from one animal, typically referred to as the donor, and implanted into another, known as the recipient. In the video, this process is central to the theme, as it is described in detail, from the preparation of the embryos through various washes to the actual transfer into the recipient cow. The script outlines the steps to ensure the embryo's viability and successful gestation.

💡Glycerol

Glycerol is a simple polyol compound that can be used in the preservation of embryos during the freezing process. In the script, glycerol is mentioned as a component of the solution in one of the wells used in the preparation stages of the embryo transfer, indicating its role in maintaining cell integrity during the procedure.

💡Sucrose

Sucrose is a sugar compound that may serve as an osmotic agent or energy source in biological solutions. The script specifies that the third well contains sucrose, suggesting its use in the final preparation of the embryo for transfer, possibly to provide a specific osmotic environment or nutritional support.

💡Timer

A timer is a device or function used to measure specific time intervals. In the context of the video, the timer is used to ensure that the embryos are kept in the sucrose solution for an additional 6 minutes, which is a crucial step in the preparation process before moving the embryos to the final wash.

💡Straw

In the context of embryo transfer, a straw refers to a small tube used to hold and transport embryos. The script describes the process of loading the embryo into a 'quar cc straw,' which is then sealed and prepared for transfer, illustrating the importance of this tool in the safe and sterile handling of embryos.

💡Tuberculin Syringe

A tuberculin syringe is a specific type of syringe used for injecting small volumes of liquid. In the script, it is mentioned that the straw is attached to a 1 cc tuberculin syringe to draw up the solution and embryo, highlighting the precision required in the transfer process.

💡Epidural Anesthesia

Epidural anesthesia is a type of regional anesthesia that numbs a specific area of the body, in this case, used in the recipient cow to prevent rectal contractions and relax the reproductive tract during the embryo transfer. The script mentions a 2% anane injection, which is administered to ensure a smooth transfer process.

💡Superovulation

Superovulation is the process where a female is induced to release more eggs than normal during a single reproductive cycle. The script describes the donor cow being superovulated using synchronized injections of follicle-stimulating hormone, which is a key step to obtain a higher number of embryos for transfer.

💡Artificial Insemination

Artificial insemination is the process of introducing sperm into a female's reproductive system to achieve pregnancy, bypassing natural mating. In the video, the donor cow is artificially inseminated with two straws of semen after superovulation, which is essential for the production of viable embryos.

💡Liquid Nitrogen

Liquid nitrogen is used as a cryogen for the freezing and storage of biological materials, including embryos. The script mentions that acceptable embryos are frozen in liquid nitrogen, which allows for the preservation of genetic material until it is ready for transfer.

💡Thawing Process

The thawing process refers to the method of warming and rehydrating frozen embryos to prepare them for transfer. The script outlines a four-step thawing process, which is crucial to ensure the survival and viability of the embryos post-freezing.

💡Progyny Testing

Progyny testing is a genetic evaluation method used to assess the genetic potential of female animals based on the performance of their offspring. The script mentions that embryo transfer can provide sufficient numbers of calves for accurate progyny testing, which is important for genetic improvement in cattle breeding.

💡Sterile Bag

A sterile bag is used to maintain the sterility of the equipment used in the embryo transfer process. In the script, the straw is placed back into a sterile bag after being prepared, which is a measure to prevent contamination before the transfer.

Highlights

The process involves transferring embryos from well number three to well number four for a final wash before transfer.

Embryos are loaded into a qu CC straw, identified with the particular embryo to be transferred.

The straw is attached to a 1 cc tuberculin syringe and filled with a specific sequence of fluid bands for embryo transfer.

A cotton plug is activated to seal the straw, preparing it for sterile storage and transfer.

Recipients require epidural anesthesia to relax the reproductive tract and prevent rectal contractions during transfer.

Approximately 5 cc's of anane solution is used per recipient for the epidural anesthesia.

The vulva and perineal region must be cleaned before inserting the transfer gun.

The transfer gun is inserted through the vulva without spreading it, due to the use of a shames.

The transfer gun is gently worked through the cervix and into the uterine horn for embryo placement.

Embryo transfer is rapid, taking only a couple of minutes per animal.

Embryo transfer has advantages such as rapid production of offspring, progyny testing, and propagation of rare breeds.

It provides an economical way to export animals and increase the value of the herd.

Donor cows and sires must have high genetic merit to ensure offspring add value to the herd.

Recipient cows must be sound, fertile, and have good milking ability to contribute to calf weaning weights.

Donor cows are superovulated using synchronized injections of follicle stimulating hormone.

Artificial insemination is performed with two straws of semen 7 days after estrus.

Embryos are evaluated for viability and then frozen in liquid nitrogen for storage or shipping.

A four-step thawing process is used before transferring frozen embryos to recipient females.

Embryo transfer is a useful procedure to increase performance and profitability in superior cattle breeding.

Progressive cattle breeders should consider embryo transfer as a management practice to enhance herd performance.

Transcripts

third well now contains no glycerol only

the

sucrose the timer is set once again for

an additional 6

minutes once the timer goes off the

final time we need to move the embryo

from well number three into well number

four number four is the final wash where

the embryo would then be loaded into the

straw for transfer

the transfer procedure we use a quar cc

straw the straw needs to be identified

with the particular embryo that we're

going to transfer

today the qu CC straw is then attached

onto the 1 cc tuberculin syringe at the

and plug end the tip of the straw is

placed into the solution and a small

amount is drawn up into the syringe we

then take a small air pocket reach down

into the solution and draw the embryo in

a larger band of fluid then another

small air pocket and a very small band

of fluid on the very

end once we have this complete the

solution is drawn up until it activates

the cotton plug and seals the straw now

the straw is ready for transfer

we can place it back in the sterile bag

for

storage the cervix itself so as we

transfer through the vulva and the

vagina this will keep us from

contaminating the sterile portion of the

gun for the recipient we need to use an

epidural

anesthesia this is an anane injection of

2%

we will use approximately 5 cc's per

recipient this will act to prevent

rectal contractions and relaxes the

reproductive

tract each recipient also needs to

receive the epidural

anesthesia once again we will give five

cc's of the anane solution

the epidural takes effect quite

rapidly the vulva and perennial region

is then washed off wiped with a paper

towel and the transfer gun is inserted

through the Volva since you're using a

shames it is not necessary to spread the

vulva prior to entering with the

transfer

gun once the transfer gun touches the

cervix the plastic shames is broken the

transfer gun is pushed through

it gently worked through the

cervix once through the cervix the gun

is slid up into the uterine

horn we normally want to slide it

approximately 3 to 4 in into the uterine

horn once in the uterine horn the embryo

is gently pushed into the

horn the assistant then correctly

identifies the recipient with the embryo

that it

received the transfer process itself is

very rapid and should only take a couple

minutes per

animal now let's review what we have

learned Embryo transfer has several

advantages these include rapid

production of large numbers of Offspring

from valuable females

sufficient numbers of calvs for accurate

progyny testing of

females propagation of rare breeds and

provides a more economical way to export

animals the donor cow and sire must have

high genetic Merit their offspring must

add to the value of the

herd even though the recipient cows do

not have any genetic effect on the

calves they must be sound fertile have

good dispositions and have good milking

ability they will contribute to the

Cal's weaning weights through their own

milking

ability the donor cow is superovulated

using synchronized injections of

follicle stimulating

hormone during standing estris she is

artificially inseminated with two straws

of

semen 7 days after estrus the embryos

are

collected embryos are evaluated for

viability acceptable embryos are then

Frozen in liquid nitrogen for storage or

shipping prior to transfer the Frozen

embryos are thawed and rehydrated in a

four-step thawing

process the embryos are then transferred

to the recipient females for gestation

and

parturition Embryo transfer is a very

useful procedure that can increase

performance and profitability of

superior cattle Progressive cattle

breeders should consider this procedure

an option when designing New Management

practices to increase the performance of

their herds

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