Effects of breed, age of donor and dosage of follicle stimulating hormone on the superovulatory response of beef cows

Data were obtained on 1039 recoveries of embryos from beef cows of four breeds at two locations, in clinic and on farm. General linear models procedures were utilized to determine the effects of breed, location, age of donor, dosage of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and the interaction of age and FSH on the following dependent variables: 1) the mean number of ova (unfertilized oocytes and embryos) recovered; 2) the mean number and percentage of embryos (fertilized; live and dead) recovered; and 3) the mean number and percentage of transferable embryos recovered. The interaction of age of donor and dosage of FSH with breed and location prevented the pooling of data over breed and location. The mean number of ova recovered was affected by age of the donor (Charolais-in clinic), or the interaction between age of donor and dosage of FSH (Polled Hereford-in clinic and -on farm and Simmental -on farm). The mean number of embryos was affected by age of donor (Polled Hereford-in clinic), dosage of FSH (Simmental-in clinic) or their interaction (Angus-on farm). The mean number of transferable embryos was affected by age of donor (Polled Hereford-in clinic and -on farm, Simmental-in clinic and Angus-on farm). General linear models procedures were utilized to determine the effects of the embryo (stage of development and quality) and the recipient (synchrony with the donor) on the rate of pregnancy. Rate of pregnancy varied with embryo quality score and synchrony of the recipient and the embryo. In conclusion, the superovulatory response was found to be highly breed-specific, and most of the variability in embryos produced was attributed to the number of ova recovered. However, the number of ova, embryos and transferable embryos recovered was further influenced by age of the donor, dosage of FSH or their interaction.