Effects of In Vitro Maturation and Fertilization of Cattle Ova on Rate of Twinning in Beef Cattle

An experiment was conducted at Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, to examine the effects of using in vitro matured and fertilized embryos in embryo transfer to induce twinning and examine the influence of twinning on cow production and carcass characteristics between single and twin calves. Fifteen single parity cows were estrus synchronized using the synthetic hormone implant Synchromate-B and ten first-calf heifers were given a 5 ml injection of lutalyse. Ovaries were collected from slaughterhouse cows from which oocytes were aspirated, matured and fertilized in vitro and nonsurgically transferred to 25 recipients, with 5 (20 percent) calves born alive from five first-calf heifers. Birthweight, head circumference, perietal, shoulder width, metacarpal length and width, and body length were recorded from the calves within 24 hours of calving in order to determine differences between effects of the sire and sex of the calf. In no case did any of the pregnant first-calf heifers produce twins.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agriculture

Grantor

Southwest Texas State University

Year dc:date.issued

1994

Author dc:creator

• Beck, David C.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Perkins, Tommy L.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Davis, Bob
• Miller, Roy V., Jr.
• Stapper, Michael W.

• beef cattle
• reproduction
• breeding
• fertilization in vitro
• twins
• hormones

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/18158

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/18158