Current status of embryo technologies in sheep and goat

• Published in: Theriogenology Vol. 59; no. 1; pp. 171 - 188
• Main Authors: Cognié, Y., Baril, G., Poulin, N., Mermillod, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Computer Science; Cryopreservation; Culture Techniques; Embryo transfer; Embryo Transfer - veterinary; Embryo, Mammalian - physiology; Female; Fertilization; Fertilization in Vitro - veterinary; Goat; Goats - embryology; In vitro fertilization; Insemination, Artificial - veterinary; Life Sciences; Male; Oocytes - physiology; Pregnancy; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted - veterinary; Sheep; Sheep - embryology; Superovulation; Tissue and Organ Harvesting; In vitro fertilization; Embryo transfer; Sheep; Goat; Cryopreservation; Superovulation
• ISSN: 0093-691X; 1879-3231
• DOI: 10.1016/S0093-691X(02)01270-0

This review presents an overview of the technical bases of in vivo and in vitro embryo production in sheep and goat. The current limitations of in vivo production, such as variability of response to the hormonal treatment, fertilization failure in females showing a high ovulatory response, and the importance of premature regressed CL in the goat, are described along with possibilities for improvement. The new prospects offered by in vitro embryo production, by repeated ovum pick-up from live females and by juvenile breeding, are presented along with their limiting steps and research priorities. The recent improvements of embryo production and freezing technologies could be used for constitution of flocks without risks of disease transmission and will allow wider propagation of valuable genes in small ruminants populations in the future.