Cryopreservation of horse semen with a liposome and trehalose added extender

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of cryopreserved equine semen in the presence of trehalose-loaded liposomes on the integrity and function of sperm cells. Six ejaculations of five stallions collected with an artificial vagina were used. The ejaculates were diluted with INRA 96® 2:1 v/v and transported at 22 °C to the laboratory. Before cryopreservation, the semen was diluted with INRA Freeze® to obtain the following treatments: T1) INRA Freeze® (control), T2) INRA Freeze® + liposomes, T3) INRA Freeze® + liposomes+trehalose. Data were analysed using the Kruskal Wallis test. The percentages of sperm with intact DNA were 54.5, 57.9, and 64.8% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively (P>0.05). When evaluating the acrosomal and capacitation state after filtering with Percoll®, the percentages of spermatozoa without acrosome reaction and without capacitation were 67.8, 79.2 and 68.1% in T1, T2, and T3, respectively (P>0.05), while the capacitated sperm without acrosome reaction and without capacitation was similar in T1 (47%) and T3 (32%) (P>0.05), and lower in T2 (16%) before filtering with Percoll®. The use of liposomes and liposome-trehalose did not affect on the functional status and nuclear chromatin of the equine sperm after freezing, but it did affect the percentage of capacitated sperm without acrosome reaction after selecting the thawed semen using the Percoll® gradient

Embryonic losses between the early diagnosis and the confirmation of gestation in dairy cows from different farms for one year

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze embryonic losses between early pregnancy diagnosis and confirmation in dairy cows of different farms for one year. Design/methodology/approach: Total of 3,413 Holstein milking cows stabled from three different farms were studied. Cows were milked 3 times a day and they had an average daily milk production of 36.5 ± 1.5 L. The diagnosis of pregnancy was made by ultrasonography at 34 ± 7 days post-artificial insemination and confirmation at 60 ± 5 days. Mean embryonic losses were compared with respect to farm and month. Results: Average embryonic losses were 18.8%. No effect was observed in month factor, nor in month x farm interaction in the embryonic loss percentage (p < 0.05). Factor farm showed differences (p < 0.05), embryonic loss percentages for farms 1, 2 and 3 were: 4 ± 1.6%, 11.4 ± 1.6%, y 22.9 ± 1.6%, respectively. Limitations on study/implications: Cow management was similar therefore no detailed differences between farms were studied. It is important to keep records of embryonic losses as they can have a significant impact on the farm. Findings/conclusions: There is a high variability of embryonic losses between the diagnosis of early pregnancy and the confirmation between the stables and this may be due to differences in management since the breed and environmental conditions were the same in the three stables.Objective: To determine embryonic losses between the early diagnosis and the confirmation of gestation in dairy cows from different barns for one year. Design/Methodology/Approach: A total of 3,413 confined Holstein cows from three different dairy barns in the Mexican Altiplano (highlands) were studied. Cows were milked three times a day with an average daily production of 36.5 ± 1.5 L. Gestation diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography at 34 ± 7 d after the artificial insemination, while gestation was confirmed at 60 ± 5 d. Average pregnancy loss was determined and embryonic losses were compared taking into account barn and month. Results: The overall average of embryonic losses was 18.8%. Neither the month factor nor the month × barn interaction affected the percentage of embryonic losses (p<0.05). Differences per barn (p<0.05) were observed and barns 1, 2, and 3 recorded losses percentages of 4 ± 1.6 %, 11.4 ± 1.6 %, and 22.9 ± 1.6%, respectively. Study Limitations/Implications: Detailed differences between barns were not studied, since cow management was similar in all three of them. Embryonic losses must be recorded, given their significant impact on the barn. Findings/Conclusions: There is a high variability among barns regarding embryonic losses between the early diagnosis and the confirmation of gestation. This situation may be the result of management differences, since the breed and environmental conditions were the same in all three barns