Artificial insemination of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama): fixed-time insemination at a synchronized oestrus

Abstract

Two trials were conducted in 1986 on artificial insemination of female fallow deer at fixed intervals from the cessation of oestrous synchronization treatment. Semen had been collected previously from mature bucks by electroejaculation and extended in sodium citrate/egg yolk diluent.In the first trial involving a comparison of the fertilization rates of fresh and frozen-thawed semen delivered intravaginally, 57 does each received a single intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDRtype S, Carter Holt Harvey Plastic Products Group Ltd, Hamilton, NZ) for a 14-day period early in the 1986 breeding season. All does were inseminated intravaginally with either fresh (no. = 26) or frozenthawed (no. = 31) semen (85 × 106 motile spermatozoa per inseminate) at 48 h after CIDR removal. The apparent conception rates for the two types of semen were 65·4% and 64·5% respectively (P > 0·1) and the actual fawning rates were 500% and 48·4% respectively (P > 0·1).In the second trial involving an investigation of the feasibility of laparoscopic intrauterine insemination, 55 does were synchronized as for the first trial. At 56 to 58 h from CIDR removal, the does were anaesthetized and laparoscopically inseminated with frozen-thawed semen (85 × 106 motile spermatozoa per animal) by direct injection into both uterine horns. Anaesthesia was reversed immediately following artificial insemination. The apparent conception rate was 47·3% and the actual fawning rate was 41·8%.Data from both trials indicate that reasonable fawning rates can be obtained for artificially inseminated fallow deer. Between 11 and 25% of does expected to fawn did not and this may represent embryonic mortality attributable to the method of oestrus/ovulation synchronization.

Premature Luteal Regression Induced by Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin and Estrogen is Suppressed by Administration of Exogenous Interferon in Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus)1

“…A third of the world's species of deer are endangered [1], and this has led to interest in the use of assisted breeding techniques for cervid conservation [2][3][4][5][6]. In the context of genetic management of small captive populations, embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization techniques offer opportunities for controlled propagation of selected genetic material from both male and female animals.…”

“…[23]. In addition, oxytocin and PGF 2 , are secreted in synchronous pulses during luteolysis [24] due to a dramatic rise in uterine oxytocin sensitivity during the late luteal phase [25].…”

Relationship between the onset of oestrus, the preovulatory surge in luteinizing hormone and ovulation following oestrous synchronization and superovulation of farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)

“…These techniques have been applied to farmed cervid species, including red deer (Asher et al, 1988a;Fennessy et al, 1989aFennessy et al, , 1990a and fallow deer (Dama dama; Asher et al, 1988bAsher et al, , 1990aJabbour et al, 1990) with variable degrees of success . The effectiveness of both artificial insemination and embryo transfer programmes depends on efficient techniques of oestrus and ovulation control, particularly in relation to synchronization of oestrus and ovulation and induction of a concise pattern of multiple ovulations.…”

Effect of pregnancy and exogenous interferon on synchronous pulsatile release of oxytocin and luteolytic prostaglandin F2 in red deer (Cervus elaphus)

“…Survival of over a third of extant deer species is threatened by the activities of man (Goombridge, 1994) and consequently there is considerable interest in the application of reproductive technology to the conservation of endangered cervid species (Asher et al, 1988a;Waldhalm et al, 1989; Jabbour and Asher, 1991;Fennessy et al, 1994;Jabbour et al, 1994a). The techniques of artificial insemination, superovulation-embryo transfer and in vitrv fertilization offer considerable advantages over natural mating for propagation of small populations.…”