Ovulation rate, embryo recovery and development in hormone-induced ovulated goats treated with PGF_2α Analogue

In embryo transfer, the viability of the embryo collected in vivo or produced in vitro is important for success in the subsequent pregnancy. The present study was conducted to estimate the rate of embryo recovery in hormone-induced ovulated goats and to examine how embryo development would proceed in these animals. A series of FSH injections and a single injection of PMSG under asynchronization of estrus could induce ovulations 2 to 3 fold higher than in the unstimulated control independent of the breeding season. On the other hand, the rate of embryo recovery in FSH and PMSG injection groups differed, whereas the average number of the corpora lutea (CL) in both groups was similar. Profiles of embryo development showed that the embryos at the morula stage were collected from 6 to 8 days post coitus and at the blastocyst stage from 8 to 10 days. These results suggest that in hormonally treated goats healthy embryos could be obtained regardless of the breeding season.