Superovulation Response, Embryo Recovery and Quality in Sahiwal Cows and Heifers

Abstract

Superovulation response, embryo recovery and quality in Sahiwal cows and heifers were studied in
12 animals divided in two grmips (Group A: 6 Sahiwal cows and Group B: 6 Sahiwal heifers). For
induction of superovulation, FSH-P (Folltropin-V, Bioniche Animal Health, Canada, @ 200 mg per
donor in 8 equally divided doses of 1.25 ml each) ,vas administered i.m. over four days at 12 hr interval,
starting day 9 -11 post estrus. A single dose of PGF2a (lliren, lntervet,@ 5 ml) was given i.m. 48 hr after
the first FSH injection, to bring the donors in heat. First A I was done 48 hr after PG injection, followed
by two more inseminations at 12 hr intervals. On day 7 of first Al, all the donors were flushed for
embryo recovery. Among 6 Sahiwal cows (Group A), only 3 (50.00%) responded to FSH treatment with
the total number of CL to be 17 (5.67/donor) and a total of 10 (3 viable and 7 degenerated) embryos. The
mean recovery of total and viable embryos (VE) for responded donors and overall were found to be 3.33
and 1.00 and 1.67 and 0.50 embryos per flush, respectively. All Sahiwal heifers (Group B) responded to
FSH treatment with the total number of CL to be 50 (8.33/donor) and a total of 37 ( 18 VE; 2 UFO; 1
zona and · 16 degenerated) embryos. The mean recovery of total and viable embryos was found to be 6.17
and 3.00 embryos per flush, respectively. Sahiwal heifers (Group B) yielded comparatively higher
number of mean ovulations (8.33) and embryos, both total (6. I 7) as well as viable (3.00), than those of
the cows under Group A (3.17, 1.67 and 0.50, respectively). Based on the results obtained, it was
concluded that since Sahiwal heifers had much better supersovulation response to gqnadotrophin
treatment and higher recovery of total and viable embryos as compared to Sahiwal cows, heifers can be
used as potential embryos donors.