Efficiency and effect of consecutive embryo recoveries on the reproductive system of goat donnors

Abstract

The purpose of this trial was to compare the efficiency and effect of consecutive embryo recoveries by three different methods (T1 - transcervical; T2 laparoscopy and T3 laparotomy) on the reproductive activity of goat donors. Ten goats were allocated into each treatment (T1, T2 and T3) and submitted to three consecutive embryo recoveries. These were performed 56 days apart. The superovulation begun on 8th day of oestrus synchronization and all goats received 250 UI of porcine FSH splited into eight decreasing dosages at 12 hours intervals. The embryo recovery took place on the 5th or 6th day from the last mating. Fifty-six days after the third recovery of embryos, the animals were sacrified and the genital tract was evaluated. The time spent to recovery the embryos was 21min 32sec; 37min 14sec and 56min 22sec, respectively to T1; T2 and T3 (p<0.01). T3 showed the highest recovery rate of washing solution (83.7%), followed by T2 (72.2%) and T1 (64.3%) (p<0.05). Embryo recovery rate had as mean values, 57.1; 81.1 and 27.3%, respectivily to T1, T2 and T3. The variation ranged between 0 and 100%. Several factors affected the embryo recovery rate, such as the presence of demised corpora lutea, the ovulation rate and the presence of adhesions in the genital tract. Nonetheless, embryo recevery rate was acceptable in all treatments. The T1 caused eversion of endometrium and adherence between the uterine horn and epiploon in one animal, the T2 caused 30, 40 and 60% of endometrium eversion and 10, 10 and 70% adherence on genital tract, respectively, for the first, second and third embryo recovery. The T3 caused 80% of adherence on genital tract after the first embryo recovery and 100% after the second. It is possible to use the methods T1 and T2 to recovery embryos in goats.