LOCATION AND STATUS OF EMBRYOS IN THE GENITAL-TRACT OF SUPEROVULATED COWS 4 TO 6 DAYS AFTER INSEMINATION

Sixty lactating Holstein cows were treated, in 3 groups, with Folltrop in and Estrumate to induce superovulation and then bred by artificial insemination (AI). Embryos were collected at slaughter on D 4, 5 or 6 after insemination by flushing separately the oviducts, uterine tip an d the remainder of the uterine horn. The embryos and ova recovered acc ounted for 64.6 +/- 4.3% of the ovulations, and there were no differen ces due to day, side or group. On D 4, 60% of the embryos were found i n the oviducts; on Days 5 and 6, 80 and 91%, respectively, were found in the tip of the uterine horn. Viability was independent of the site of recovery; over 91% of the embryos grew and developed in culture for at least 3 d.