Effects of feeding OmniGen-AF® on superovulatory response in donor beef cows: I. Serum progesterone and cortisol, embryo recovery and quality

Abstract

Optimal results in cattle embryo transfer are limited by the variation in ova recovery, fertilization rate and embryo quality experienced with superovulation. Inflammation and immune dysregulation may be contributing factors. This study, evaluated feeding OmniGen-AF® (OG), a nutritional supplement that reduces inflammation and supports immune health, on superovulatory response and serum progesterone and cortisol concentrations in embryo donors treated with two different doses of Folltropin®-V (FSH). Angus cross-bred beef cows (n = 24) were assigned to four groups, fed OG at 0 or 56 g/animal/day for 49 days and were treated with 200 or 400 mg FSH to induce superovulation. Treatments for superovulation started after feeding OG for 28 days and ova were non-surgically recovered 7 days after estrus and graded for quality. More transferrable embryos (P < 0.05) were recovered from cows fed 56 g OG and treated with 400 compared with 200 mg FSH. Percent degenerate embryos recovered from cows treated with the 400 mg FSH dose was threefold greater (P < 0.05) when fed no OG compared with 56 g OG. Serum progesterone on day of embryo collection was greater (P < 0.05) in OG-supplemented cows and cows treated with 200 mg FSH. Serum cortisol was not affected (P > 0.10) by FSH dose or OG-feeding, but was greatest (P < 0.05) on Days 0 and 42 of the feeding period. In summary, the improvement in embryo quality with OG-feeding may relate to a greater serum progesterone concentration.