BOVINE PROGRESSIVE DEGENERATIVE MYELOENCE PHALOPATHY (WEAVER-SYNDROME) IN BROWN SWISS X BRAUNVIEH CATTLE - REPRODUCTIVE FEATURES AND EMBRYO-TRANSFER

In the time between 1989 and 1991 seven Brown Swiss heifers, which had clinical signs of the Weaver syndrome were kept at the Bavarian Insti tute of Animal Breeding in Grub. This was in order to investigate this hereditary trait further. The number of animals carrying this genetic defect was increased by means of embryo transfer. Both cycle observat ions and ovary controls by means of rectal palpation resulted largely in physiological data and findings. All seven animals responded to sup erovulation treatment which was induced by sequential doses of p-FSH ( 32 mg) or of a single doese of 2,000 IU PMSG. The donors were flushed a total of 32 times without problem. On average 5.3 ova were recovered , 2.8 of which were viable and suitable for transfer. These are statis tically only 50% of the normal value in a routine ET programme. Follow ing the transfer of fresh and frozen embryos the pregnancy rate was 53 %. There was only one abortion observed from 48 pregnancies.