AlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 24,1981
Flourescent dyes separate embryo-transfer candidates
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - In
veterinary science and animal
husbandry’s race to develop
superior breeds of domestic
livestock, a little-known dye
technique now under study by
Maryland Agricultural Ex
periment Station research
scientists could separate
prizewinners from ho-hum also
rans.
MAES researchers believe the
technique using fluorescent dye
can help them increase their
chances of accurately identifying
healthy embryos from those with
little chance of developing into a
calf.
"Fertilized ova (eggs) can be
evaluated microscopically to
determine it they are developing
embryos, but this method is not
consistent on an individual embryo
basis,” says Dr. Monica Haaland,
assistant professor of veterinary
science at the University of
Maryland and an MAES resear
cher.
“If our studies are successful
with fluorescent dye evaluation,
we’ll be able to determine more
accurately an embryo’s poten
tial,” she says. “Those identified
as •excellent’ by the dye evaluation
will have the best chance of being
carried full-term through the
pregnancy to delivery.”
The technique could be of special
interest to the dairy and beef cattle
industry where embryo transfer is
gaining widespread popularity.
And, as embryo freezing
becomes more widely available,
there will be a need for more ac
curate methods of evaluation,
according to the College Park
researcher.
Although the first successful
embryo transplant from natural to
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surrogate mother took place in
1890 in experiments with hares, it
wasn’t until the early 1970’s that
the cattle industry began to use the
technique to produce increased
numbers ot offspring from
valuable females.
Last year along, more than
20,000 of the transfers were per
formed on dairy and beef animals
in the United States.
The process works like this. A
healthy female of superior genetic
quality is given fertility drugs to
stimulate the production ot more
than the normal one or two ova.
The female is then paired with a
genetically superior male, either
through traditional breeding
methods or artificial insemination.
Usually the latter is chosen
because it is more efficient one
controlled ejaculation,
theoretically, can fertilize as many
as 300 females and offers little *
chance of infection or injury to
either animal.
Once fertilized, the ova now
developing embryos are flushed
from the true mother and tran
sferred to surrogate mothers who
will carry the offspring to term.-
Dunng the flushing process, as
many as 40 embryos have been
recovered and 10 is not uncommon,
say researchers.
Not only does the process allow
one superior female to "mother” a
large number of offspring at a
time, it allows her to do it more
often. Without the burden of
carrying a full pregnancy, the
superior female can go through the
ovulation-breedmg-fiushing cycle
a number of tunes during the same
period she normally would be
carrying an offspring in her womb.
Beyond simple production .of
large numbers of genetically
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superior animals for dairy or beef
markets, the process has other
applications, according to MAE’s
Dr. Haaland.
A cow with superior genes in
every other respect may have
problems carrying a calf to term.
Her uterus may be damaged and
unable to carry a fetus. An embryo
transfer would allow her to con
tinue to produce extremely
valuable offspring.
Although the process sounds
virtually foolproof, it isn’t: Not all
of the estimated 20,000 transfers
performed last year resulted in a
State
HARRISBURG - Ap
proximately 1500 Grangers trom
across the state will meet in
Altoona next week for the annual
State Grange Session from Oct. 26-
29.
The major function of the session
is for delegates from 565 local
Granges in the state to vote on
legislative and organizational
policy for the upcoming year.
The Pennsylvania State Grange
is a rural farm fraternity formed
in 1873 for the advancement of
agriculture and rural living. The
current state membership is 44,000
strong.
Also featured at the convention
are contest finals for sewing,
needlework, baking, photography
and crafts. Granger of the Year,
Brock has over 300 dual purpose and
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successful pregnancy. Only 40-60
percent saw delivery of a live calf.
One reason, says Haaland, is the
quality of the developing embryo.
Her research with fluorescent
dyes, she explains, will help
veterinary scientists determine an
embryo’s chances of survival
without expending the time
necessary to culture embryos.
"If it can be determined through
fluorescent dye evaluation that an
embryo has a poor chance of being
carried to term, there is little
reason to perform an embryo
transfer,” Haaland says.
Grange session
convenes Monday
Community Service, Talent and
Safety awards will be presented as
well.
Governor Richard Thornburgh
will address delegates on Oct. 27 at
an All-Granger banquet served in
the Jaffa Mosque on Broad Street,
Altoona. Additional speakers for
the session include Secretary of
Agriculture Penrose- Hallowell.
Secretary of Transportation
Thomas Larson, Senator Edward
Helfrick, chairman of the Senate
Agricultural and Rural Affairs
committee, and Blair County
legislators.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler
Rocky Bleier will make a special
appearance on Oct. 27 to tagc about
the upcoming water bonds
referendum slated for the Nov. 3
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'Future "developments could
make the dye evaluation technique
even more valuable. Already,
healthy calves have been born
from embryos stored in liquid
nitrogen a state of frozen
suspended animation for as long
as a year after the actual
fertilization of the embryo.
Pregnancy rates, however, from
the transfer of "thawed” embryos
are less than half those from fresh,
unfrozen embryos. A quick and
accurate evaluation technique,
therefore, would save the industry
time and money, according to
researchers.
ballot to provide badly needed loan
money for water supply systems in
Pennsylvania. Bleier serves as
honorary chairman for a com
mittee formed to promote the
water loan issue, first endorsed by
the State Grange.
Most session activities will take
place at the Jaffa Mosque ;
however, contest entries will be on
display in the Sheraton of Altoona.
These exhibits are open to the
public on Oct. 27 and 28.
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