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The effects of excess rumen degradable protein in ewes on ovulation rate, fertilization and embryo survival in vivo and during in vitro culture.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2017

C. Bishonga ,
J.J. Robinson ,
T.G. McEvoy ,
R.P. Aitken ,
P.A. Findlay  and
I. Robertson
C. Bishonga
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
J.J. Robinson
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
T.G. McEvoy
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
R.P. Aitken
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
P.A. Findlay
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
I. Robertson
Affiliation:
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB2 9SB
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Extract

In a review of the effects of protein nutrition on reproduction in dairy cattle, Ferguson and Chalupa (1989) expressed concern at the low conception rates to first insemination in high-producing dairy cows and suggested that a contributory factor may be an excess of rumen-degradable protein leading to toxic effects of ammonia and its metabolites on gametes and/or the embryo. More recently Elrod and Butler (1993) have provided data suggesting that degradable protein intakes which were 50% above the requirements for maximum microbial protein synthesis reduced embryo survival in dairy heifers. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect in ewes of varying the amount of rumen degradable protein during the pre-ovulatory progesterone priming phase and the first four days thereafter on ovulation, fertilization, early in vivo and subsequent in vitro ovum development.

Type
Sheep Production
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1994 , March 1994 , pp. 81
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1994

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References

Elrod, C.C. and Butler, W.R. (1993) Journal of Animal Science 71., 694–701.Google Scholar
Ferguson, J.D. and Chalupa, W. (1989) Journal of Dairy Science 72, 746–766.Google Scholar