Management aspects of induced twinning in beef suckler cows using in vitro fertilised embryos

• Published in: Veterinary record Vol. 136; no. 20; p. 506
• Main Authors: Penny, C D, Lowman, B G, Scott, N A, Scott, P R, Voelkel, S, Davies, D A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 20-05-1995
• Subjects: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Animals, Newborn - physiology; Birth Weight; Blood Chemical Analysis - veterinary; Cattle - physiology; Cattle Diseases - etiology; Dystocia - etiology; Dystocia - veterinary; Embryo Transfer - veterinary; Estrus Synchronization; Extraembryonic Membranes - pathology; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - veterinary; Fetal Death - etiology; Fetal Death - veterinary; Insemination, Artificial - veterinary; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome - veterinary; Pregnancy, Animal - physiology; Pregnancy, Multiple - physiology; Random Allocation; Twins
• ISSN: 0042-4900
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.136.20.506

Twin and single pregnancies were induced in two groups of oestrus-synchronised beef cows by using a combination of artificial insemination and the transfer of in vitro fertilised (IVF) embryos. Single IVF embryos transferred non-surgically to the uterine horn contralateral to the corpus luteum of 43 previously inseminated cows resulted in a calving rate of 72 per cent with a twinning rate of 38.7 per cent. In 45 cows, two IVF embryos were transferred non-surgically to one uterine horn resulting in a calving rate of 51.1 per cent with a twinning rate of 39.1 per cent. The median gestation length for cows bearing twins was 10 days shorter than that of cows bearing single calves (P < 0.001). The proportions of cows that received assistance at calving were similar for twin and single births (57 per cent vs 45 per cent, P > 0.05), but the incidence of retained fetal membranes was much higher after the birth of twins (62 per cent vs 3 per cent, P < 0.001). Nineteen per cent of twin calves were stillborn compared with 6 per cent of single calves (P > 0.05). The median birthweight of the twin calves was 32 kg (68 per cent of the median weight of single calves). The nutrition of twin-bearing cows in late pregnancy was adequate when assessed in terms of their plasma glucose, non-esterified fatty acid and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were similar in single and twin calves suggesting that the passive transfer of antibody was not compromised in the twin calves.