Viability of bovine demi- and quarter-embryos after transfer

The viability of bovine demi- and quarter-embryos was investigated. Early compacting morulae were nonsurgically flushed from superovulated donor cows and were bisected by two microneedles. One of the halves was then split further into two quarters. Each demi- and quarter-embryo was placed in an evacuated zona pellucida. One demi- or two quarter-embryos were transferred non-surgically into cow or heifer recipients. Viability was measured by ultrasound scanning of the fetuses on Days 35, 48 and 60 of pregnancy. The pregnancy rates at Day 60 were 46.2% (6/13) for heifers and 33.3% (4/12) for cows after the transfer of a single demi-embryo. The transfer of two quarter-embryos resulted in a pregnancy rate of 61.5% (8/13) for heifers and 8.3% (1/12) for cows. Seven (53.8%) and four (33.3%) live fetuses were found on Day 60 following the transfer of demi-embryos into heifers and cows, respectively. The transfer of quarter-embryos resulted in 10 fetuses (38.5%) in the heifer recipients and only one fetus (4.2%) in the cow recipients. The results of this study suggest that heifers are more suitable than cows as recipients for quarter-embryos.