title: Advancements in large animal embryo transfer and related biotechnologies.
abstract: Embryo transfer has been an inherent part of cattle breeding for more than 35 years and has also gained remarkable interest from the equine industry after several breeds allowed registration of more than one foal per year. In both large animal species, non-surgical embryo recovery and transfer are well-established techniques. However, success rates after superovulation and cryopreservation of embryos in horses are still lagging behind those of cattle, and more research is needed to address these areas. To address the problem of freezing large equine embryos, we offer a preliminary demonstration of a new cryopreservation method which involves reduction of the blastocoelic volume and microinjection of cryopreservative. Successful cryopreservation will improve the ability of practitioners to preserve and implant embryos in recipient mares. Recent advances in the use of equine FSH to induce superovulation in mares brings to the forefront the issue of how to best preserve the large number of embryos that are produced. Finally, the use of sexed semen after superovulation will provide the bovine and equine breeding industry the offspring of the desired sex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Population Health and Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scherzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Population Health and Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fayrer-Hosken
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Population Health and Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Population Health and Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hurley
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, AthensDepartment of Population Health and Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Heusner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006736:Horses / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D019849:Sex Determination Processes; D013480:Superovulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone