ART - Small Ruminant

Question 1

What steps are involved in ET in small ruminants?

Answer 1

1. Management and selection of donors and recipients
2. Synchronization of estrus in donors and recipients
3. Superovulation of donors
4. Breeding (natural or AI)
5. Embryo collection
6. Embryo evaluation
7. Transfer of embryos

Question 2

How does superovulation increase the efficiency of ET?

Answer 2

By increasing the potential number of embryos available for recovery at the time of embryo collection

Question 3

What drugs are used in superovulation in small ruminants?

Answer 3

Folltropin, PMSG, PG600, Eazi-Breed sheep CIDR

Question 4

What FSH/LH ratio does follitropin promote?

Answer 4

5:1 (FSH:LH)

Question 5

When is folltropin administered?

Answer 5

Around days 11-13 of the estrous cycle

Question 6

How many injections of folltropin are required for superovulation in small ruminants?

Answer 6

6-8 injections decreasing dose at 12 hour intervals

Question 7

What is FSH administration followed by in small ruminants?

Answer 7

PGF2 alpha - the same as in the cow

Question 8

How many doses of PMSG is administered and with what?

Answer 8

A single dose in combination with FSH

Question 9

What is PMSG used to do?

Answer 9

manipulate the estrous cycle when out of season

Question 10

What is PG600 a combination of?

Answer 10

PMSG(FSH-like) and HCG (LH-like)

Question 11

What is PG600 administered with? How many doses?

Answer 11

a single dose with FSH

Question 12

What is PG600 used to do?

Answer 12

manipulate the estrous cycle when out of season

Question 13

What does a CIDR do?

Answer 13

Releases progesterone to synchronize estrus and used during superovulation of donors

Question 14

How quickly after the removal of the CIDR are small ruminants in standing heat?

Answer 14

24-36 hours

Question 15

What is the general embryo recovery protocol?

Answer 15

Day 0 - CIDR in
Day 4 - FSH injections start in the PM
Day 6 - Remove CIDR and Prostaglandin
Day 8 - Last FSH injection in AM, tease and breed AM/PM
Day 9 - Breed/LAI
Day 14 - Surgical embryo recovery

Question 16

What is the timing for goat cervical AI?

Answer 16

12 and 24 hours after observed estrus

Question 17

What is the timing for goat laparoscopic AI?

Answer 17

45-50 hours after CIDR removal

Question 18

What is the iming for sheep laparoscopic AI?

Answer 18

48-60 hours afte CIDR removal

Question 19

What tool are used to restrain donors and recipients for ET?

Answer 19

Cradles

Question 20

How long after insemination are embryos collected?

Answer 20

Around 6-7 days after insemination

Question 21

What should be done to prep donors for embryo recovery surgery?

Answer 21

All donors are taken off of feed for 24 hours and water 12 hours prior to surgery

Question 22

What sedative is used for embryo recovery?

Answer 22

Xylazine and ketamine

Question 23

How is the donor’s response to superovulation assessed?

Answer 23

laparoscopically

Question 24

What is considered a poor responder?

Answer 24

if there are = 3 CL

Question 25

How is embryo recovery done?

Answer 25

The uterus and uterine horns are exteriorized through an abdominal excision.
A foley catheter is introduced into the base of the uterine horn, threaded up the horn, and the cuff of the catheter is inflated.
Embryo flushing media is introduced through a tomcat catheter and directed down the uterine horn, towards the Foley and collected in a conical tube or filter. The procedure is repeated with the opposite horn.

Question 26

What is the average number of transferable quality embryo for sheep and goats?

Answer 26

6-7 per flush

Question 27

What are embryos evaluated for?

Answer 27

Size, morphology, and developmental stages - similar to bovine embryos

Question 28

How many embryos can be loaded per pipette for fresh transfer?

Answer 28

1 or 2 embryos

Question 29

What pregnancy rate can be expected from good quality embryos/

Answer 29

60-70% pregnancy

Question 30

What are the benefits to laparoscopic ET procedure?

Answer 30

It is safe, minimally invasive surgical procedure. It can be performed fairly quickly. It can achieve high pregnancy rates.

Question 31

What is the laparoscopic technique for embryo transfer?

Answer 31

Recipeints are sedated with Xylazine, placed on the cradle, and the ventral abdomen is prepared for surgery. A local lidocaine block is done. The peritoneal cavity is inflated with are and the laparascope is inserted for evaluation of the ovarian response. If adequate response, the horn is exteriorized ipsilateral to the CL and manually held. A small incision is made on the tip of the uterine horn with the backend of a curved needle. A tomcat catheter with the embryosis pushed through the incision into the lumen of theuterine horn. The embryos are deposited by pushing them through the tomcat catheter with a TB syringe. Each recipient can recieve one or two embryos ipsilateral to the ovary containing the CL