Factors affecting pregnancy rates for goat embryos recovered and transferred by transcervical route

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the factors affecting non-surgical embryo transfer (NSET) efficiency in goats. Donor goats (n = 10) were superovulated, mated and embryos were collected by non-surgical embryo recovery 7 d after estrous onset. A total of 28 pluriparous recipient goats were subjected to short-term progestagen-based estrous induction protocol with equine chorionic gonadotropin. They received 36 fresh embryos as single (n = 20) or in pairs (n = 8) by NSET 6 to 7 d after estrous onset, ipsilateral to the corpora lutea (CL). Pregnancy rate was affected (P 0.05) by the uterine horn, number of CL (1 to 3), lactational status and number of embryos transferred per recipient goats. Both overall pregnancy and kidding rates were 32.1% and 13 kids were born, representing an embryo survival rate of 36.1%. Goat embryo transfer programs can be successfully performed by using non-surgical techniques, achieving satisfactory embryonic survival rates.