Successful transfer of frozen N'Dama embryos from the Gambia to Kenya

T Jordt, G D Mahon, B N Touray, W K Ngulo, Ivan Morrison, J Rawle, Max Murray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Frozen embryos from N'Dama cattle were successfully transferred from The Gambia to Kenya. Of the 26 N'Dama cows used 12 were successfully programmed to superovulate and of these seven produced 30 embryos that were collected seven days after oestrus/service. Five N'Dama bulls were used for natural service. In Kenya 29 embryos were implanted into 29 Boran heifers seven days (+/- 1) after the induction of synchronised oestrus. Eleven pregnancies were established and after one abortion of unknown aetiology at seven and a half months five female and five male calves were born and subsequently reared. During programming the N'Dama cows showed prolonged anoestrus leading to the necessity of oestrus induction using intravaginal progesterone releasing coils; pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin gave better superovulation than follicle stimulating hormone. One N'Dama bull proved to be subfertile. The success of the project has demonstrated the potential of this technique to make disease-free N'Dama available for research purposes and for the promotion of livestock development programmes in tsetse-infested areas using trypanotolerant cattle.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)65-75
Number of pages11
JournalTropical Animal Health and Production
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1986

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Animals
  • Cattle/embryology
  • Embryo Transfer
  • Estrus
  • Female
  • Fertilization
  • Gambia
  • Kenia
  • Male
  • Ovary/physiology
  • Phenotype

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Successful transfer of frozen N'Dama embryos from the Gambia to Kenya'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this