Serum biochemical parameters and embryo production during superovulatory treatment in dairy cattle

• Published in: Research in veterinary science 2007-12, Vol.83 (3), p.318-321
• Main Authors: Chorfi, Younès, Lanevschi, Anne, Dupras, Raynald, Girard, Vincent, Tremblay, Armand
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acid-base balance; Administration, Intravaginal; Animals; biomarkers; blood chemistry; Cattle; Cattle - blood; Cattle - embryology; Creatine Kinase - blood; Dairy cattle; dairy cows; embryo (animal); embryo transfer; Embryo Transfer - veterinary; Embryo, Mammalian; embryogenesis; Embryos; Estradiol - pharmacology; Feeds; Female; female reproductive system; fertilization (reproduction); homeostasis; hormonal regulation; liver function; Magnesium - blood; Metabolic disorders; Methods; mineral metabolism; Mycotoxins; Nutrition research; Ovulation Induction; Potassium - blood; Progesterone - administration & dosage; Progesterone - pharmacology; protein metabolism; Serum chemistry parameters; Statistical analysis; superovulation; Superovulation - blood; Superovulation - drug effects; Transferable embryos; Veterinary medicine; viability
• ISSN: 0034-5288; 1532-2661
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.01.010

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the number of transferable embryos (TE) and various blood chemistry parameters as a reflection of the metabolic state of cows after superovulatory treatment. Forty-nine Holstein cows were subjected to superovulatory treatment for commercial embryo production. At the time of embryo harvest, individual blood samples were taken from cows for biochemical analysis. All embryos including dead ones as well as non-fertilized oocytes were counted in uterine lavage. Feed samples collected daily for a period of two weeks before embryo harvest, were analyzed for mycotoxins: vomitoxin, zearalenone and T-2 toxin. On average, cows produced 9.45 ± 5.60 embryos and oocytes of which 5.27 ± 4.20 were TE, 0.37 ± 0.80 were dead embryos and 3.82 ± 3.78 were non-fertilized oocytes. Higher concentrations of Mg and K were associated with a higher production of TE ( p = 0.005 and p = 0.043, respectively) and higher activity of creatinine kinase was associated with a lower production of TE ( p = 0.011).