COMPARISON OF REPEATED TRANSVAGINAL OVUM PICK-UP IN HEIFERS BY ULTRASONOGRAPHIC AND ENDOSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS

Endoscopically and ultrasonographically guided ovum pick up were studi ed in 15 heifers once per week. Altogether 60 sessions were carried ou t. The number of aspirated follicles per animal (13.0 vs 10.3) did not differ significantly between both methods. Similar recovery rates (39 % vs 44 %) were achieved after repeated sessions. As a consequence th e number of recovered oocytes per animal (5.2 vs 4.7) were not signifi cantly different. Inter-animal- and intra-animal-variations were more important for the results than the applied methods. In contrast to the se findings the qualify of recovered cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COG) wa s significantly influenced by the methods. The COC were divided into 4 categories a) oocytes with compact cumulus, b) oocytes with rest of c ompacted cumulus, c) oocytes with expanded cumulus and d) oocytes with out cumulus. There was a higher denudation rate of COC when using the endoscopic aspiration (62.0 % vs 6.6 %) because of turbulent current i n this aspiration system. Advantages and disadvantages of both methods are described and discussed. Generally, the ultra sonographic method is the less traumatic procedure for the vagina, fornix and for abdomin al organs. The other method is less traumatic for the ovaries.