Transcervical embryo transfer in performance mares.
Pregnancy was established by transcervical transfer of embryos from performance mares into recipient mares. Estrus was synchronized between donor (n = 17) and recipient (n = 43) mares. After a greater than or equal to 25-mm follicle was detected, donor mares were bred artificially daily until ovulation. Day of ovulation was recorded. Uterine flushes (n = 111) were performed on donor mares 7 days after ovulation, and recovered embryos were transferred transcervically to recipient mares within 2 hours. Embryos were recovered from 40.5% of uterine flushes. Of transferred single embryos, 65.7% resulted in pregnancy, detectable by ultrasonographic examination 23 days after transfer. Only 35.3% of twin embryos resulted in pregnancy. Results over a 4-year period were as follows: uteri were flushed on 14, 44, 31 and 22 occasions, and 8, 21, 15, and 11 embryos were recovered (1 embryo was not transferred), with 6, 11, 4, and 6 resulting in 30-day pregnancy in years 1 to 4, respectively.
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Hofmann Center of the Section of Reproductive Studies, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, 19348.
D000818:Animals; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000196:embryology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons