A transpic technique was developed to transfer embryos to 352 sheep an
d 4 deer recipients using a laparoscope, a modified pair of Allis forc
eps and a modified Cassou aspic normally used for laparoscopic uterine
insemination. The overall proportion of uncomplicated transfers in Ex
periment 1 in 216 recipient ewes was 90.7% (range between groups 80 to
100%), 3.7% of the transfers were presumed to be loss of embryos duri
ng expulsion from the transpic, and 5.6% were apparent transfers into
the uterine wall. In Experiment 2, 83% of transfers into 136 ewe recip
ients were uncomplicated, 5% were presumed to be loss of embryos durin
g expulsion, 1% was apparent transfer into the uterine wall, and 11% i
nvolved 2 attempts at transfer. Only 34% of 116 recipients receiving l
ow-quality frozen-thawed embryos were pregnant and 24% of the 226 embr
yos survived to term. In contrast, high pregnancy rates (>80%) and emb
ryo survival rates (>70%) were achieved following uncomplicated and tw
ice attempted transfers of fresh embryos. Pregnancy rates and embryo s
urvival fates were low (<2%) following the presumed loss of embryos du
ring expulsion and apparent transfers into the uterine wall. All 4 dee
r transfers were uncomplicated and 2/2 good-quality embryos survived t
o term compared with 0/2 low-medium quality embryos. The transpic tech
nique is a moderately invasive technique which permits fast (15 to 20/
h) and reliable transfer of embryos in small ruminants. With appropria
te care, nearly all of the embryos can be correctly placed in the uter
us, and high pregnancy rates and embryo survival rates can be achieved
using this technique.