GM-CSF treatment of frozen bovine sperm improves function, fertilization, and subsequent embryo development.

In vitro embryo production (IVP) is used in the cattle industry to increase the rate of genetic gain. IVP uses semen that has been frozen and thawed, a process that renders sperm less viable than sperm from fresh semen. Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is present in bovine seminal plasma, while its receptor is present on bovine sperm.

Real-time in vivo confocal laser endomicroscopic imaging of equine endometrium: Preliminary observations and feasibility study.

Endometrial health is vital for the reproductive efficiency of broodmares and accurate diagnostic testing is crucial for directing the best treatment options and outcomes. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an endoscopic technique for obtaining in-vivo, real-time microscopic imaging of tissues using a fiber optic probe. CLE relies on induced tissue fluorescence and fluorescein sodium, given intravenously, is the contrast agent most used in human medicine.

Heat stress from current and predicted increases in temperature impairs lambing rates and birth weights in the Australian sheep flock.

Livestock heat stress threatens production, particularly in semi-arid, arid and tropical regions. Using established temperature thresholds for sheep, we modelled +1 °C and +3 °C temperature increases over the historical baseline, estimating that 2.1 million potential lambs are lost annually due to heat stress alone, increasing to 2.

Split weaning improves pregnancy rate and embryo survival in sows mated in lactation.

Increasing piglet weaning age while maintaining the reproductive efficiency of the breeding herd depends on the ability to stimulate sows to ovulate during lactation without reducing subsequent pregnancy rates and litter sizes. The aim of this study was to determine if a reduction in piglet suckling load, either prior to or immediately after mating in lactation, altered ovarian follicle development and increased embryo survival to day 30 of gestation. Fifty-nine multiparous Large White x Landrace sows were allocated to one of three treatments; litter size maintained at 11 piglets (control); litter size reduced to seven piglets on day 18 of lactation (split wean (SW)); or litter size reduced to seven piglets at expression of lactation oestrus (oestrus split wean (OES SW)).

Effect of split weaning on follicle development and oocyte quality in multiparous sows.

Increasing piglet weaning age while maintaining the reproductive efficiency of the breeding herd depends on being able to stimulate sows to ovulate during lactation without reducing subsequent pregnancy rates and litter sizes. Embryo survival is affected by the quality of the oocytes shed at ovulation, and oocyte quality is profoundly impacted by the follicular environment in which the oocyte matures. This study determined the effect of reducing suckled litter size from 11 to 7 piglets on day 18 of lactation on the ovarian follicular environment and oocyte developmental competence at day 21 of lactation.