EMBRYO-TRANSFER IN FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA) - SUPEROVULATION, EMBRYO RECOVERY AND LAPAROSCOPIC TRANSFER OF FRESH AND CRYOPRESERVED EMBRYOS

Multiple ovulation-embryo transfer (MOET) protocols for farmed fallow deer (Drama dama) were investigated in a series of 3 experiments. A to tal of 37 donors, of either European D.d. dama; n = 30) or Mesopotamia n hybrid (D.d. mesopotamica X D.d. dama; n = 7) genotype, each receive d an intravaginal silastic device containing 0.3 g progesterone (CIDR( R)-type G device) for 14 d and injections of 0.5 units ovine FSH (8 x 0.06 unit injections from Days 10 to 14 of device insertion) and 100 I U PMSG (either with the first or last FSH injection). All donors recei ved laparoscopic intrauterine inseminations of fresh semen (50 x 10(6) spermatozoa) from a Mesopotamian sire 36 h after withdrawal of CIDR(R ) devices. Embryos were recovered by laparotomy on Day 6 (Day 0 = estr us). Mean ovulation rates for the 3 experiments were 8.1, 9.8 and 7.0, with no effect of PMSG timing (P>0.10). However, embryo recovery rate s, albeit low throughout the study (29.6%), were significantly improve d with later PMSG administration (33.9 vs 20.1%; P<0.05). Hybrid and E uropean donors performed in a similar manner. A range of embryo develo pment stages was recovered throughout the study. In 2 experiments lapa roscopic transfer of embryos to 48 recipient does treated previously w ith intravaginal CIDR(R) devices for 14 d yielded a total pregnancy ra te of 37.5%. In the experiment with fresh embryos, the use of clenbute rol to reduce uterine turgidity resulted in a higher proportion of doe s conceiving (3/4; 75%) compared with that of the untreated does (0/6, 0%; P<0.05). In the second experiment, in which all the does routinel y received clenbuterol, 10/19 (53%) and 5/19 (26%) does conceived foll owing the transfer of fresh and cryopreserved embryos, respectively (P <0.05). While the overall efficiency of the MOET program was low (equi valent of 0.9 to 1.0 surrogate pregnancies per donor), improvements in the recovery late of transferable embryos have considerable potential for genetic improvement of farm stock and captive propagation of enda ngered Mesopotamian fallow deer through maternal surrogacy programs.