Comparison of the survival of fertilized eggs from adult ewes in the uteri of adult ewes and ewe lambs

Quirke, J. F.; Hanrahan, J. P.

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0680289

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(23 reference statements)

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“…There is evidence, at least in some breeds of sheep (Galway: Quirke and Hanrahan 1977; Romney: McMillan and McDonald 1985), that embryo survival is lower in ewe lambs than in adult ewes. These later studies and the a subsequent study of Quirke and Hanrahan (1983) all employing embryo transfer indicate that the impaired embryo survival associated with ewe lambs is attributable to the inherent quality of embryo rather than any deficiency of uterine environment. Ricordeau et al.…”

Section: Causes Of Embryo or Foetal Lossmentioning

confidence: 94%

Embryonic and Early Foetal Losses in Cattle and Other Ruminants

Diskin

Morris

2008

Reprod Domestic Animals

511

363

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Embryo survival is a major factor affecting production and economic efficiency in all systems of ruminant milk and meat production. For heifers, beef and moderate yielding dairy cows, does and camelids it appears that fertilization generally lies between 90% and 100%. In high-producing dairy cows there is a less substantive body of literature, but it would appear that it is somewhat lower and perhaps more variable. In cattle, the major component of embryo loss occurs before day 16 following breeding with some evidence of greater losses before day 8 in high-producing dairy cows. In cattle late embryo loss, while numerically much smaller than early embryo mortality loss, nevertheless, causes serious economic losses to producers because it is often too late to rebreed females when they repeat. In multiple ovulating small ruminants, the loss rate is positively related to ovulation rate. Systemic concentrations of progesterone, during both the cycle preceding and following insemination, affect embryo survival rate with evidence that too high or indeed too low a concentration being negatively associated with survival rate. Uterine expression of mRNA for progesterone receptor, oestradiol receptor and retinol-binding protein appears to be sensitive to changes in peripheral concentrations of progesterone during the first week after artificial insemination. Energy balance and dry matter intake during 4 weeks after calving are critically important in determining conception rate when cows are inseminated at 70-100 days post-calving. Concentrate supplementation of cows at pasture during the breeding period has minimal effects on conception rates though sudden reductions in dietary intake should be avoided. For all systems of milk production, more balanced breeding strategies with greater emphasis on fertility and feed intake and/or energy balance must be developed. There is sufficient genetic variability within the Holstein breed for fertility traits. Alternative dairy breeds such as the Jersey or Norwegian Red could also be utilized. Genomic technology will not only provide scientists with an improved understanding of the underlying biological processes involved in fertilization and the establishment of pregnancy, but also, in the future, identify genes responsible for improved embryo survival. Its incorporation into breeding objectives would increase the rate of genetic progress for embryo survival.

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Section: Causes Of Embryo or Foetal Lossmentioning

confidence: 94%

Embryonic and Early Foetal Losses in Cattle and Other Ruminants

Diskin

Morris

2008

Reprod Domestic Animals

511

363

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“…If so, this has some important implications, particularly in the sheep industry where the mating of animals at puberty (8-10 months of age) is rarely adopted as the fertility of these animals is 50% less than that of those mated at 2 years of age (Kenyon et al 2004). It is thought that oocyte competence plays a major role in this reduced fertility (Quirke & Hanrahan 1983). The concept of rapidly growing follicles releasing immature oocytes during an animal's initial oestrous cycles may go some way to explaining this issue and provide insights for overcoming the problem.…”

Section: Ovigerous Cord Formationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of mammalian ovary

Smith¹,

Wilhelm²,

Rodgers³

2014

Journal of Endocrinology

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Pre-natal and early post-natal ovarian development has become a field of increasing importance over recent years. The full effects of perturbations of ovarian development on adult fertility, through environmental changes or genetic anomalies, are only now being truly appreciated. Mitigation of these perturbations requires an understanding of the processes involved in the development of the ovary. Herein, we review some recent findings from mice, sheep, and cattle on the key events involved in ovarian development. We discuss the key process of germ cell migration, ovigerous cord formation, meiosis, and follicle formation and activation. We also review the key contributions of mesonephric cells to ovarian development and propose roles for these cells. Finally, we discuss polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, and pre-natal undernutrition; three key areas in which perturbations to ovarian development appear to have major effects on post-natal fertility.

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“…nourished IUGR model uses adolescent ewes carrying a single fetus conceived via embryo transfer, a single sire, and a limited number of donor ewes to minimize genetic variation. Although useful for research purposes, embryo transfer in sheep is a complicated procedure and can alter fetal growth (Quirke and Hanrahan, 1983;Sinclair et al, 1999). Therefore, results obtained from embryo transfer studies may not be indicative of growth under commercial livestock production settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of overfeeding naturally-mated adolescent ewes on maternal, fetal, and postnatal lamb growth1

Peel

Eckerle

Anthony

2012

Journal of Animal Science

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of overfeeding naturally-mated adolescent ewes (Ovis aries) on maternal, fetal, and postnatal lamb growth, hormone concentrations, and lamb carcass characteristics. Two experiments were conducted in which singleton-bearing adolescent ewes were fed a diet containing 2.72 Mcal/kg ME at a rate which met NRC gestational age requirements (MN; n = 10 in Exp. 1, n = 7 in Exp. 2) or were fed the same diet ad libitum (15% refusal rate) throughout gestation (HN; n = 7 in Exp. 1, n = 6 in Exp. 2). Ewe BW was greater (P < 0.05) for HN than MN ewes beginning on 75 d and 52 d of gestation for Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Final BCS was greater (P ≤ 0.05) for HN than MN ewes in both experiments; 3.5 vs. 3.0, respectively, for Exp. 1, and 4.8 vs. 2.9, respectively, for Exp. 2. Fasting maternal blood insulin concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in HN ewes near term (135 d of gestation), whereas fasting maternal glucose concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.05) during most of the second half of gestation in HN ewes, for both experiments. Gestation length did not differ (P = 0.69) between treatments in Exp. 1, but in Exp. 2, HN ewes had shorter (P = 0.01) gestation lengths (144 vs. 149 d) and had increased (P = 0.002) dystocia scores. Fetal abdominal circumference was greater (P < 0.05) in lambs from MN than HN ewes at 97 d of gestation in Exp. 1 (20.8 vs. 17.4 cm) but did not differ (P = 0.94) between treatments at 95 d of gestation in Exp. 2 (averaging 20.5 cm). There were no differences (P ≥ 0.15) in lamb BW, abdominal circumference, crown-rump length, and biparietal distance at birth; or in postnatal BW and plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and lactate in either experiment. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.18) in HCW, dressing percentage, LM area, fat thickness, or KPH between treatments in Exp. 2. Although there was no difference (P ≥ 0.31) between treatments in concentrations of IGF1 or IGF2 mRNA in liver samples collected at harvest, lambs from MN ewes had greater (P ≤ 0.05) concentrations of IGF1R and INSR mRNA, suggesting long-term effects of maternal diet on postnatal hepatic function. In conclusion, excess nutrition during gestation in naturally-mated adolescent ewes did not affect birth weight or postnatal performance of offspring.

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Comparison of the survival of fertilized eggs from adult ewes in the uteri of adult ewes and ewe lambs

Cited by 21 publications

References 19 publications

Embryonic and Early Foetal Losses in Cattle and Other Ruminants

Embryonic and Early Foetal Losses in Cattle and Other Ruminants

Development of mammalian ovary

Effects of overfeeding naturally-mated adolescent ewes on maternal, fetal, and postnatal lamb growth1

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