Abstract The study evaluated the effects of eCG treatment prior to ovum pick up (OPU) on follicular population, oocyte and embryo yields in summer and autumn in Podolic cattle. The effects of repeated OPU on cattle wellbeing was also documented. Twenty-six animals were used, and split into two groups, treatment (OPU; n = 18) and control (CG; n = 8). The OPU cattle were subsequently split into two subgroups (n = 9) and underwent repeated OPU, without and with eCG priming, for a total of 8 sessions (4 sessions/season). Follicular population, oocyte and embryo yields were recorded in those sub-groups. CG was handled in the same manner of OPU, except for epidural anaesthesia and follicular aspiration. Biochemical profile, serum protein electrophoresis and haptoglobin levels were analysed in OPU and CG. Hormonal priming increased the number of medium follicles (1.7 ± 0.2 vs 0.9 ± 0.2, p < .05), while it decreased the recovery rate and number of cumulus-enclosed oocytes (COCs) (recovery rate: 38.3 ± 3.5 vs 60.5 ± 4.0%; COCs: 2.3 ± 0.3 vs 3.4 ± 0.4, respectively; p < .01). However, priming increased cleavage (72.9 ± 5.7 vs 49.4 ± 5.4; p < .05) and blastocyst (41.1 ± 5.7 vs 23.0 ± 4.2; p = .054) rates. With regard to season’s effect, a higher number of COCs was recorded in autumn than in summer (3.1 ± 0.4 vs 2.6 ± 0.3; p < .05) without affecting though the number of embryos produced (0.9 on average). Since haematological parameters did not vary between OPU and CG, our preliminary data suggest that repeated OPU may be used as a conservation strategy in Podolic cattle without affecting wellbeing. Highlights Podolic cattle is an endangered Italian breed, reared in semi-extensive/extensive systems Ovum pick-up (OPU) can be carried out in this breed without impairing animal health and welfare The eCG treatment before OPU (priming) did not improve the number of embryos produced per donor.

中文翻译：

---

Podolic 牛重复取卵用于保存策略的功效：一项初步研究

摘要 本研究评估了在取卵（OPU）前进行心电图处理对 Podolic 牛夏季和秋季卵泡数量、卵母细胞和胚胎产量的影响。还记录了重复 OPU 对牛健康的影响。使用了 26 只动物，并分成两组，治疗组（OPU；n = 18）和对照组（CG；n = 8）。OPU 牛随后被分成两个亚组 (n = 9)，并在没有和有 eCG 启动的情况下重复 OPU，总共 8 个会话（4 个会话/季节）。在这些亚组中记录了卵泡数量、卵母细胞和胚胎产量。除了硬膜外麻醉和滤泡抽吸外，CG 的处理方式与 OPU 相同。在 OPU 和 CG 中分析了生化特征、血清蛋白电泳和结合珠蛋白水平。激素启动增加了中等卵泡的数量（1.7 ± 0.2 vs 0.9 ± 0.2，p < .05），同时降低了卵丘封闭卵母细胞 (COC) 的恢复率和数量（恢复率：38.3 ± 3.5 vs 60.5 ± 4.0） %；COC：分别为 2.3 ± 0.3 与 3.4 ± 0.4；p < .01）。然而，启动增加了卵裂（72.9 ± 5.7 vs 49.4 ± 5.4；p < .05）和囊胚（41.1 ± 5.7 vs 23.0 ± 4.2；p = .054）率。关于季节的影响，秋季记录的 COC 数量高于夏季（3.1 ± 0.4 对 2.6 ± 0.3；p < .05），但不影响产生的胚胎数量（平均 0.9）。由于 OPU 和 CG 之间的血液学参数没有变化，我们的初步数据表明，重复 OPU 可以用作 Podolic 牛的保护策略，而不会影响健康。