Superovulatin Peformance and Embryo Recovery in South Anatolian Red Cows

Abstract

South Anatolian Red (SAR) cattle which breeds from Mersin to Sanlıurfa with centered Kilis in the region of South Anatolia, is one of native breeds of Türkiye. The aim of this study is to evaluate the superovulator response and embryo recovery rates after the superovulation protocol applied to the SAR breed cattle. Fort this purpose, 10 donors were selected from the conservation herd in Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute. FSH was performed to donors in decreasing doses twice daily over a 4 day period. Before uterine flushing, the ovaries were examined by ultrasound and the structures on them were recorded in order to determine the superovulation response. Each cornu uteri was flushed with foley catheters using a 3-way Y catheter. In the evaluation of embryo recovery, embryos were classified as transferable and non-transferable embryos . In South Anatolian Red cattle, the response to superovulation was found as average 7.8 corpus luteum and 2.8 anovulatory follicule for 10 donors which performed superovulation protocols. After uterine flushing, 5 UFOs, 3 non-transferable embryos and 2 transferable embryos were obtained from 10 animals. As a result, superovulation response and embryo recovery of SAR cattle was tried to be evaluated. In this study, although the superovulation response was good, the reason for the low embryo recovery rate may be due to the low reproductive performance in SAR cattle. And also, it has been concluded that the hormonal imbalance of these aggressive animals and the difficulties that occur during uterine flushing affect embryo recovery. It was thought that more studies should be done, different superovulation protocols should be tried and OPU technic should be evaluated in order to increase the rate of transferable embryos from SAR cattle. In addition, it was concluded that different techniques should be tried while performing uterine flushing procedures.