Twin Calf Production in Water Buffaloes Following Non-Surgical Transfer of in Vitro-Produced-Vitrified Embryos
Philippine Journal of Science 137 (2): 99-104, December 2008 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Twin Calf Production in Water Buffaloes Following Non-Surgical Transfer of in vitro-produced-vitrified Embryos Danilda Hufana-Duran*1,3,4, Prudencio B. Pedro1,2, Apolinario L. Salazar Jr.1 Hernando V. Venturina1, Peregrino G. Duran1, Yoshiyuki Takahashi3, Yukio Kanai4, and Libertado C. Cruz1 1Philippine Carabao Center, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, 3120 Philippines 2Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines 3Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary and Clinical Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818 Japan 4Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572 Japan Twinning in buffalo cows is only about 0.01%. Effecting twin pregnancies by transferring more than one embryo of different developmental stages was tested. Cumulus-oocyte complexes collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries were matured and fertilized in vitro. Presumptive zygotes were cultured, on Day 6-7, developed blastocysts stage embryos were removed, frozen by vitrification, and stored in liquid nitrogen. After 2 to 5 months, 130 embryos were warmed; 72 were cultured in vitro to test for viability while 58 were non-surgically transferred in two's (n= 20 recipients) or three's (n = 6 recipients) to 26 buffalo cows. No significant difference was observed on post-warming survival rate of the embryos at different developmental stages with 85-88% hatched within 72 h of in vitro culture. Embryo transfer resulted to birth of one twin (3.8%) and five single births (19.2%) presenting 23.1% (6/26) calving rate. This demonstrates the possibility of enhancing twinning in buffaloes by embryo transfer techniques.
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