title: Effect of dietary protein on embryo recovery rate and quality in superovulated heifers.
abstract: For almost 3 decades, superovulation and embryo transfer have been used in cattle breeding to increase the number of offspring from genetically superior female animals. Several factors including nutrition affect the number of transferable embryos recovered. We compared the effects of two different dietary protein levels easily achieved in practical conditions on embryo number and quality in superovulated heifers. Finnish Ayrshire heifers (n = 37) were allocated to isoenergic diets containing either 14% (D14) or 18% (D18) crude protein (CP). Estruses were synchronized, and the heifers were subsequently superovulated and inseminated using a standard FSH-protocol. Embryos were collected 7 days after inseminations (71-72 days after the beginning of the treatment period) by uterine flushing. The number of corpora lutea, and the number and quality of embryos were determined. Protein feeding did not affect superovulatory response, the number of embryos or the number of transferable embryos recovered. Proportionally more poor-quality embryos were found in group D14 than in group D18 (20.2% versus 13.2%, respectively, P = 0.053). It is concluded that a long-term moderate increase in the content of crude protein fed to energy-adequate heifers does not seem to affect superovulatory response and the number of embryos recovered, but it may be advantageous to the quality of embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Saari Unit, Pohjoinen Pikatie 800, 04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikkola
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mäntysaari
authors.forename: Niina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tammiranta
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peippo
authors.forename: Juhani
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taponen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D004973:Estrus Synchronization / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013480:Superovulation / Q000502:physiology*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014508:Urea