Welcome to another edition of the Bova-Tech news.  We do hope you are enjoying our monthly newsletters.  Is there a topic you would like to know more about?  If so send us your suggestions for content and we will do our best to provide valuable information. 

Summer is just around the corner, the days are getting longer and warmer.  Calving is done for most so its a great time to start considering IVF Services or some in-clinic flushes.  If you have ever considered in-vitro fertilization services please read on as the May edition covers the IVF topic. 

We look forward to seeing our friends and clients as our spring on-farm work continues.  We are also always happy to answer any of your inquiries so feel free to give us a call or drop us an email.

~ Andres, Melissa & Lisa

did you know that BTL offers IVF Services?

A growing number of cattle breeders are using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to maximize embryo production from donors that need to be pregnant, problem cows, young heifers and better use of expensive or rare semen.

This is the process of harvesting oocytes from donor cow’s ovaries, and creating embryos by fertilizing the oocytes with semen in a petri dish.

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The embryo is then implanted into a recipient cow (surrogate cow), or they can be frozen indefinitely.

Collections

IVF is a proven technique with sound conception rates when performed correctly, conventional ET is less expensive than IVF. However, that is changing, as IVF costs are decreasing with different lab methods. With conventional ET, a donor female needs to be kept open to be bred and flushed, and cows can be collected at a minimum of every 30 days.

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Collections every two weeks are possible with IVF, as the eggs are collected directly off the ovaries, not from the uterus. This also allows a person to collect from pregnant cows. After confirming by ultrasound that they’re 30 to 35 days in calf, the female receives the FSH (Folltropin or PluSet) super-stimulation drug to produce multiple follicles. The IVF veterinarian then uses an ultrasound-guided needle to aspirate the follicles off the ovaries. In the lab, follicles are matured and fertilized before being cultured for seven days.

How the procedure works

The first stage is the key addition to conventional embryo transfer. Eggs are removed from the donor cows ovary before the ovary naturally releases the oocyte down the fallopian tube.

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Using a process called trans-vaginal aspiration, IVF works by first removing the dominant follicle in the ovary, allowing the rest to grow.

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In a normal estrous cycle , the dominant follicle inhibits the rest – otherwise a cow could end up developing dozens of follicles and end up with a pregnancy with multiple calves . With IVF, all follicles are left for six days to develop uninhibited within the ovary by performing a process called dominant follicle removal  (DFR). 

Oocyte development

1. Dominant follicle removal

​The donor cow is given a local anesthetic and cleaned with a mild disinfectant and saline solution. This can happen on the farm or at the Bova-Tech facility.  An ultrasound-guided needle enters the ovary to remove the dominant follicle to stimulate super-stimulation.

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2.  Super-stimulation 

​A three-day course of follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) is administered to stimulate ovaries to produce more oocytes.

Oocyte collection

3. Ovum pick-up (OPU)

​The donor cow is brought into the collection facility, where the temperature is at 27-32C. Oocytes are harvested via trans-vaginal aspirations, averaging 10 - 15 eggs per collection depending on the donor cow, the eggs are then matured for 20-24 hours.

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4. Insulated chambers

​Eggs are placed into insulated chambers to mimic a cow’s body temperature.

Fertilization

5.  Fertilization 

​One straw of semen can be utilized to fertilize several eggs from different cows if necessary.

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6.  Embryos

Resulting embryos are matured for a week in the laboratory, passing through eight different maturation liquids (medias) mimicking the changing pH and gas levels inside the uterus. 

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7. Embryos can be transferred directly or frozen indefinitely

Breeding Benefits

Problem breeders can be salvaged because they can be used as a donor if, for example, they have:

• Uterine damage
• Fallopian tubes blocked
• Scarring

Extend breeding life:

• Collection possible from 10 months to 20 years old and above
• Ovaries can be recovered from abattoir
• Able to produce embryos from pregnant cows