Estrous Synchronization
Superovulation
and
Embryo Transfer
Estrous Synchronization
A management technique that makes use
of hormones to control or reschedule the
estrous cycle
Hormones associated with reproduction
LH & FSH
Progesterone
Estrogen
Prostaglandin
Why synchronize?
Group females for parturition (calving
interval)
Shorten breeding season
Reduce estrus detection
Advantages of implementing a
synchronization program
Calves produced early in season will wean
heavier because they are older
Cows require 40-60 days to recover from
calving before next breeding
– Cows that bred earlier have better chance of
maintaining 365 d calving interval the next
year
Basis for Synchronization of
Estrus
Manipulate life span of CL
Manipulate growth of follicles and timing of
ovulation
Synchronization Methods
Method Tradename Utilization
Gonadotropins Cystorelin Mature females
Fertagyl
Prostaglandins Estrumate Cycling females
Lutalyse
Prostamate
Progestins MGA Pre-pubertal heifers
CIDR Post-partum or
Anestrous females
Synchronization Methods
Gonadotropins(GnRH protocols)
Naturally occurring hormone that
stimulates the release of LH and FSH that
stimulates follicular development
Protocols include Ovsynch and Cosynch
Synchronization methods
Prostaglandins
– Naturally occurring hormone that causes
regression of the CL (luteolysis) and
decreases progesterone secretion which
results in a return to estrus
– Can expect estrus within two days following
injection
– Protocols include PGF one-shot method and
PGF two-shot method
Synchronization methods
Progestins
Form of progesterone that extends the
period of time progesterone is present and
prevents animal from coming into heat
Protocols include MGA+prostaglandin and
CIDR
Synchronization methods:
drug trade names and effectiveness
Method Trade Female “type” for drug
name effectiveness
Prostaglandins Lutalyse* *Cycling cows or heifers
Estrumate* ∞
Cycling mares
Prostamate*
Equimate∞
Progestins MGA* *Cycling cows or heifers
CIDR* *Anestrous cows or heifers
Regumate∞ ∞
Mares
* Cattle ∞
Equine ^Swine
Synchronization methods:
drug trade names and effectiveness
Method Trade Female “Type” for drug
name effectiveness
Gonadotropin Cystorelin* *Postpartum cows
Releasing Fertagyl* *Anestrous cows
Hormones Ovuplant∞ ∞
Cycling mares
Placental PG600^ ^Peri-pubertal gilts
Gonadotropins
* Cattle ∞Equine ^Swine
Cost $2.50/head
One Injection of PGF
Advantages Limitations
– Useful for detection of – 10-25% of females
estrus in heifers and may not be detected
cows in estrus during days 0
– Decreased drug cost to 10
– Limited animal – Poor degree of
handling synchrony on females
that return to estrus
– Must have CL
– Length of estrus
detection
– Abortion
Cost $4.70/head
Two Injections of PGF
Advantages Limitations
– Useful for detection of – Females must have
estrus in heifers and functional CL
cows – Length of estrus
– Tighter synchrony detection
than one injection – Administration of PGF
method will cause abortion in
– Can use fixed pregnant animals
insemination time after
2nd injection
Cost $8.00/head
MGA and Prostaglandin
Advantages Limitations
– Proven system for – Length of program
heifers – Must have appropriate
– Inexpensive method feeding space to allow
– Can hasten cyclicity in efficient consumption
anestrous females – Estrus synchronization
may be variable
– Must ensure uniform
daily consumption of
feed supplement prior
to and during oral
administration of MGA
Cost $14.00/head
CIDR
Advantages Limitations
– Useful for detection of – Possible retention
estrus in heifers and failure of CIDR
cows – Cost per treatment
– Induces cyclicity in a may be higher than
percentage of other methods
anestrous cattle – An additional day of
– High pregnancy rates processing for
hormone treatment
would be required to
facilitate fixed time AI
Cost $9.00/head
Cost $9.00/head
GnRH
Advantages Limitations
– Higher and tighter rate – Higher cost due to
of estrus synchrony hormone injections
compared to PGF – Increase of time and
protocols labor
– Allows for estrus – Not recommended for
detection or timed AI use in heifers
Synchronization in the Mare
Products used: Equimate, Estrumate, Lutalyse
When administered in diestrus, expect ovulation in 7-12
days
If 30-35mm follicle is present, expect ovulation in 2-4
days
Will only work when fully functional CL is present
“short cycling” refers to restarting the estrous cycle early
Prostaglandin should be given after day 6
hCG can be given to mares resulting in immediate
ovulation
Synchronization in the Sow
Prostaglandin will not cause Common progestins will
CL regression until day 12 synchronize estrus but
of cycle because LH binds cause ovarian cysts
to luteal cell receptor with
strong affinity following Regumate has been
ovulation and is not found to be effective
released until day 12.
Repeated injections over Noncycling gilts can be
two to three days will synchronized with P.G.
regress CL sooner, but is 600 (400 IU eCG and 200
not practical. IU hCG)
Synchronization in the Ewe
Most common protocols use either use
prostaglandins or CIDR
Embryo Transfer
Removal of embryos from biological dam
(donor) and placement into a surrogate
dam (recipient) for differentiation, growth
and birth
Purpose of Embryo Transfer
Increase productivity of genetically
superior donors
Maximize use of valuable semen
Transport genetics across long distances
Production of identical offspring by
embryo splitting
– (potentially valuable as research animals)
Limitations of Embryo Transfer
Expensive
Labor intensive
Requires extensive training and
experience
Successful Embryo Transfer
Requires:
Superovulation
Artificial insemination of the donor female
Recovery of embryos from the donor
Maintenance of embryos
Transfer of embryos to recipient female
Superovulation
Treatment of a female with gonadotropins
(generally FSH) to increase the number of
oocytes that are selected to become
dominant follicles and ovulate
– a typical treatment response in cattle would
be 8 to 10 ovulations
Superovulation Procedures
Hormones used for Superovulation
FSH (follicle stimulating hormone)
– [Short half-life ~2 hours]
– Used for commercial SOET
PMSG (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin;
eCG)
– [Long half-life ~ 2 - 4 days]
– Not approved for use in commercial SOET in the US.
Used frequently for research in Europe.
FSH dosage for superovulation of
cattle
Bos Taurus Bos Indicus Heifers
AM PM AM PM AM PM
Day 1 5 mg 5 mg 4 mg 4 mg 3 mg 3 mg
Day 2 4 mg 4 mg 3 mg 3 mg 3 mg 3 mg
Day 3 3 mg 3 mg 2 mg 2 mg 2 mg 2 mg
Day 4 2 mg 2 mg 2 mg 2 mg 2 mg 2 mg
Total 28 mg 22 mg 20 mg
Steps of Embryo Transfer in
Cows
1. Synchronization of recipients with donor
Goal: want donor and recipient to be in
same stage of estrous cycle
Reason: preparation of recipient uterus to
support embryogenesis
How: treat recipient with synchronization
protocol that induces estrus to occur at
same time as the donor
Steps of Embryo Transfer in
Cows
2. Superovulation of donor female
Goal: hyperstimulate ovaries with
gonadotropins
Reason: provide higher than normal
numbers of follicles that will ovulate
How: inject donor with FSH
Steps of Embryo Transfer in
Cows
3. Inseminate donor with semen from
genetically superior bull
Goal: to generate the best fertilization rates and
genetic combinations possible
Reason: enhance rate of genetic progress
How: utilize highly fertile semen and trained
inseminators
Steps of Embryo Transfer in
Cows
4. Recovery and identification of viable embryos
Goal: nonsurgically collect (flush) embryos from
donor for transfer
Reason: to recover viable embryos
How: block with local anesthetic to relax
rectum, at day 6-8 a Foleys catheter is inserted into
uterus and inflated to prevent retrograde flow of
flushing medium, introduce medium, lavage uterus
and collect fluid
Steps of Embryo Transfer in
Cows
5. Transfer of viable embryos into
synchronized recipients
Goal: to deposit a potentially viable embryo into the
uterine horn of each recipient
Reason: to achieve pregnancy in each recipient
How: a single embryo is placed into the uterine horn
(ipsilateral to the CL) using a transfer pipette
Embryo Grading
Criteria for classifying Embryo Quality
embryos
1 – Excellent
– Even number of 2 – Good
cells 3 – Fair
– uniform division 4 – Poor
– healthy zona 5 – Degenerate
pellucida
