Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T02:50:01.631Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Managing embryonic and calves losses after twin pregnancies induced by transfer of in vitro-produced Nellore embryos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2020

Juliano F. Souza ,
Rotar Lubov ,
Clesio J. F. Paiva ,
Nilda F. C. Tavora ,
Regiane R. Santos Open the ORCID record for Regiane R. Santos [Opens in a new window]  and
Jose R. Figueiredo
Juliano F. Souza*
Affiliation:
Laboratory Brio Genetics and Biotechnology Ltd, Araguaína, PO Box 77804-970, Tocantins, Brazil
Rotar Lubov
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg Agrarian University, PO Box 196601, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Clesio J. F. Paiva
Affiliation:
Federal University of Campina Grande, PO Box 58708-110, Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil
Nilda F. C. Tavora
Affiliation:
Institute of Rural Development of Tocantins, PO Box 77804-040, Araguaína, Tocantins, Brazil
Regiane R. Santos
Affiliation:
Animal Sciences Post-graduation Programme, Federal University of Pará, PO Box 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil
Jose R. Figueiredo
Affiliation:
State University of Ceará, PO Box 60714-903, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Juliano F. Souza. Laboratory Brio Genetics and Biotechnology Ltd, Araguaína, PO Box 77804-970, Tocantins, Brazil. E-mail: julianofranco@uol.com.br
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Two farms applying reproductive technology for the Nellore beef cattle were selected. Both farms had the same technology programme of oestrous synchronization and embryo transfer, but management was different, especially regarding twins pregnancies. In the present study, we followed the farms from the moment of oestrous synchronization, embryo transfer (two per cow), until delivery and first care of the calves. In farm A, cows presenting twin pregnancies (5 from 13) were submitted to delivery induction, as well as calves and cows were monitored after birth. In farm B, such management was not followed with the twin pregnant cows (31 from 49). In both farms, freemartinism was detected, but this was not a problem as none of the animals would be selected for breeding. No dystocia was observed in farm A, while 48% of the twin pregnancies in farm B ended up in dystocia. Furthermore, the mortality rate of new-born calves in farm A was 10%, while in farm B it reached 32%. Although twin pregnancies remain a concern, we showed here that proper management during and after delivery minimizes animal and economic losses.

Keywords

Bos indicusEmbryo productionGestationIn vitro fertilization
Type
Short Communication
Information
Zygote , Volume 28 , Issue 4 , August 2020 , pp. 333 - 336
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abreu, LRA, Ribeiro, VMP, Gouveia, GC, Cardoso, EP and Toral, FLB (2018) Genetic trends and trade-offs between growth and reproductive traits in a Nellore herd. PLoS One 13, 201392.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baruselli, PS, Reis, EL, Marques, MO, Nasser, LF and Bo, GA (2004) The use of hormonal treatment to improve reproductive performance of anestrous beef cattle in tropical climates. Anim Reprod Sci 82–83, 479–86.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Costa, RB, Camargo, GMF, Diaz, IDPS, Irano, N, Dias, MM, Carbalheiro, R, Boligon, AA, Baldi, F, Oliveira, HN, Tonhati, H and Albuquerque, LG (2015) Genome-wide association study of reproductive traits in Nellore heifers using Bayesian inference. Genet Sel Evol 47, 67.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Echternkamp, SE and Gregory, KE (2002) Reproductive, growth, feedlot, and carcass traits of twin VS single births in cattle. J Anim Sci 80, 64–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO (2019) http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/themes/en/meat/production.htmlGoogle Scholar
Gregory, KE, Echternkamp, SE, Dickerson, GE, Cundiff, LV, Koch, RM and Van Vleck, LD (1990) Twinning in cattle: III. Effects of twinning on dystocia, reproductive traits, calf survival, calf growth and cow productivity. J Anim Sci 68, 3133–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gregory, KE, Echternkamp, SE and Cundiff, LV (1996) Effects of twinning on dystocia, calf survival, calf growth, carcass traits, and cow productivity. J Anim Sci 74, 1223–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hansen, PJ and Block, J (2004) Towards an embryocentric world: the current and potential uses of embryo technologies in dairy production. Reprod Fertil Dev 16, 1–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hashiyada, Y (2017) The contribution of efficient production of monozygotic twins to beef cattle breeding. J Reprod Dev 63, 527–38.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henchion, M, Hayes, M, Mullen, AM, Fenelon, M and Tiwari, B (2017) Future protein supply and demand: strategies and factors influencing a sustainable equilibrium. Foods 6, 53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hirayama, H, Katagiri, S, Kageyama, S, Minamihashi, A, Moriyasu, S, Sawai, K, Onoe, S and Takahashi, Y (2007) Rapid sex chromosomal chimerism analysis in heterosexual twin female calves by loop-mediated isothermal amplification. Anim Reprod Sci 101, 38–44.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McMillan, WH (1998) Statistical models predicting embryo survival to term in cattle after embryo transfer. Theriogenology 50, 1053–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meneghetti, M, Sá Filho, OG, Peres, RFG, Lamb, GC and Vasconcelos, JLM (2009) Fixed-time artificial insemination with estradiol and progesterone for Bos indicus cows. I: Basis for development of protocols. Theriogenology 72, 179–89.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Penny, CD, Lowman, BG, Scott, NA, Scott, PR, Voelkel, S and Davies, DA (1995) Management aspects of induced twining in beef suckler cows using in vitro fertilized embryos. Vet Res 136, 506–10.Google Scholar
Pontes, JHF, Melo Sterza, FA, Basso, AC, Ferreira, CR, Sanches, BV, Rubin, KC and Seneda, MM (2011) Ovum pick up, in vitro embryo production, and pregnancy rates from a large-scale commercial program using Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) donors. Theriogenology 75, 1640–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Qiu, Q, Shao, T, He, Y, Muhammad, AUR, Cao, B and Su, H (2018) Applying real-time quantitative PCR to diagnosis of freemartin in Holstein cattle by quantifying SRY gene: a comparison experiment. Peer J 6, e4616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reichenbach, HD, Liebrich, J, Berg, U and Brem, G (1992) Pregnancy rates and birth after unilateral or bilateral transfer of bovine embryos produced in vitro. J Reprod Fert 95, 363–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sá Filho, OG, Meneghetti, M, Peres, RFG, Lamb, GC and Vasconcelos, JLM (2009) Fixed-time artificial insemination with estradiol and progesterone for Bos indicus cows. II: Strategies and factors affecting fertility. Theriogenology 72, 210–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Souza, JF, Lienou, LL, Rodrigues, APR, Alexandrino, E, Cavalcante, TV, Santos, RR, Figueiredo, JR and Dias, FEF (2018a) Cryosurvival after exposure of IVF-derived Nellore embryos to different cryoprotectants and exposure times during vitrification. Cryobiology 84, 95–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Souza, JF, Oliveira, CM, Lienou, LL, Cavalcante, TV, Alexandrino, E, Santos, RR, Rodrigues, APR, Campelo, CC, Figueiredo, JR and Dias, FEF (2018b) Vitrification of bovine embryos followed by in vitro hatching and expansion. Zygote 26, 99–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Szczerbal, I, Kociucka, B, Nowackawoszuk, J, Lach, Z, Jaskowski, JM and Switonski, M (2014) A high incidence of leukocyte chimerism (60, XX/60, XY) in single born heifers culled due to underdevelopment of internal reproductive tracts. Czech J Anim Sci 59, 445–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
USDA (2019) Agricultural projections to 2028. Office of the Chief Economist, World Agricultural Outlook Board, US Department of Agriculture. Prepared by the Interagency Agricultural Projections Committee. Long-term Projections Report OCE-2019-1, 108 pp.Google Scholar