Effect of semen and donor factors on multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) in sheep

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) is an important tool in the sheep industry for increasing numbers of genetically superior individuals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of semen source (frozen or fresh), the number of embryo collection procedures for each donor (NECP), the season in which embryo transfer and collection was performed, and the age and breed of the donor, on the number of recovered embryos and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer. The Alamos Genetics' flushing station database was used. This consisted of 140 embryo collection procedures, from 53 Dorper and White Dorper sheep donors, aged between one and eight years, totalling 1,200 collected embryos. Neither the number of retrieved embryos nor the pregnancy rate was affected by the semen preservation method (fresh or frozen), NECP or the age and breed of donor. The season did not affect the number of collected embryos but had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the recipient pregnancy rate, with higher pregnancy rates reported in the winter (65.57% ± 25.33%) compared with spring (37.11% ± 33.27%), summer (29.95% ± 28.33%) or autumn (35.03% ± 31.66%). There is an estimated increase of 98.4% and 71.5% of embryos recovered in the spring and summer seasons, respectively, when winter is used as reference. The survival of embryos is significantly higher when implanted during the breeding season, more specifically in winter. Embryo collection can be carried out throughout the year in sheep, but there may be a marginal advantage in the use of superovulation and fresh embryo transfer programmes in the autumn and winter.