Effect of Body Condition Score (BCS) on In Vivo Embryo Production and Pregnancy Rate Following Superovulation in Hanwoo

한우에서 신체충실지수(BCS)가 다배란 처리 시 체내 수정란 생산과 수태율에 미치는 영향

Body condition score (BCS) is a useful management tool for distinguishing differences in nutritional needs of cows in the herd. Although it is not always possible to quantify the nutrient content of the feed supplied to the donor cow, the nutritional status can be determined by the BCS. The objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo embryo production, return to estrous of donor and pregnancy rate of recipients following BCS in Hanwoo superovulation. Sixty nine Hanwoo donor cows were flushed on day 7 of estrus cycle with same FSH and artificial insemination by the same technicians. Embryos were recovered on 7 days after the third insemination by flushing the uterus with Embryo Collection Medium. The results obtained were as follows: No differences were observed in the efficiency of superovulation rates regardless of BCS ($${\leq_-}2.0$$, 2.5 to 3.0, and $${\geq_-}3.5$$). The mean number of total embryos was each $5.20{\pm}0.86$, $11.56{\pm}1.04$, and $6.23{\pm}1.07$. The mean number of transferable embryo from $${\leq_-}2.0$$, 2.5 to 3.0, and $${\geq_-}3.5$$ of BCS was $2.60{\pm}0.87$, $7.94{\pm}0.89$, and $4.75{\pm}1.32$, respectively (p<0.05). Return to estrous regardless of donor BCS was no difference. The pregnancy rates of recipient were BCS $${\leq_-}2.0$$ 11.76%, 2.5 to 3.0 40.79%, and $${\geq_-}3.5$$ 11.11%, following transfer of fresh embryos produced in vivo, respectively. These results indicate that if the Hanwoo with BCS 2.5 to 3.3 are used for donor and recipient, the embryo production and the conception rate will be greater.