New approaches to superovulation in the cow

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Animal Reproduction

Background:

• Bovine superovulation protocols require simplification without impacting embryo yield.
• Current methods like oestradiol are restricted globally, and mechanical dominant follicle removal is impractical for field application.
• Alternative hormonal treatments such as gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or luteinizing hormone (LH) show variable efficacy in randomly cycling cattle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a simplified superovulation protocol for beef donors using a single intramuscular injection of FSH.
• To compare embryo production from this simplified protocol with traditional twice-daily FSH administration.

Main Methods:

• Beef donors were superovulated using a single intramuscular injection of Folltropin-V in a slow-release formulation.
• Embryo production was compared to that achieved with conventional twice-daily FSH protocols.

Main Results:

• Superovulation using a single intramuscular injection of Folltropin-V resulted in embryo production comparable to the traditional twice-daily protocol.
• The number of transferable embryos did not differ significantly between the simplified and traditional methods.

Conclusions:

• A single intramuscular injection of FSH offers a viable alternative for bovine superovulation, simplifying donor management.
• This simplified protocol has the potential to reduce labor, handling stress, and facilitate wider adoption of embryo transfer technologies.