title: Application of reproductive biotechnology for the recovery of endangered breeds: birth of the first calf of Murciana-Levantina bovine breed derived by OPU, in vitro production and embryo vitrification.
abstract: In a conservation project, reproductive biotechnology was implemented for the recovery and conservation of an endangered bovine breed in Spain. The breed Murciana-Levantina, declared to be worthy of special protection status (http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2006/1000464/index.html), is of great interest because of its hardness, longevity, docility and disease resistance. This contribution describes the birth of the first calf of this breed obtained by reproductive biotechnology, using ultrasound-guided punction and aspiration of ovarian follicles, in vitro embryo production, vitrification of embryos by a cryotop device and, finally, the transfer of cryopreserved embryos to recipient heifers of a commercial dairy herd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero-Aguirregomezcorta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Astiz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peinado
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Almela
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000662:veterinary*; D059471:In Vitro Oocyte Maturation Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy