Results of experiments studying superovulation, laparoscopic and endoscopic
embryo recovery, cryopreservation, and laparoscopic embryo transfer in goa
t are reviewed and analyzed in this paper. Thirty on-year, 25 two-year-old
Mohair goats, and 28 Saanen white short-horned goats (various age) were cho
sen for superovulation treatment in reproductive season. Superovulation was
stimulated by intravaginal sponges Intervet (40 mg Norgestomet, 14 days) a
nd by administration of pFSH (6 doses. 400 I.U. in total). A selected buck
was used for hand mating of donors in heat period. Embryos were recovered o
n Day 6 post 1st mating by a surgical procedure (one-year Mohair goats) and
by the laparoscopic method (the other donors). Routine embryologic procedu
res were used for isolation and classification of collected embryos. In one
-year Mohair goats, 8.8 ova (4.2 from the right uterine horn, 4.6 from the
left one) and 7.5 transferable embryos (3.4 and 4.1 resp., the remaining on
es were classified as unfertilized oocytes, P > 0.05) were recovered on ave
rage. In two-year Mohair goats, 8.8 ova (93.6%, 4.2 and 4.6 from the right
horn and the left horn), 7.5 transferable embryos (3.4 and 4.1 reap., the r
emaining ones classified as unfertilized oocytes) were collected on average
. Rate of transferable embryos/recovered ova amounted to 85.3%. In Saanen g
oats, 17.7 ova (104.1%, 8.5 and 9.2 ova resp.) and 8.3 transferable embryos
(4.0 and 4.3 resp., the remaining ones being unfertilized oocytes) were re
covered on average. Rate of transferable embryos amounted to 46.0%. Transfe
r of embryos; preserved by the routine protocol (0.3 degrees C per min in 1
0% glycerol) was successful in 22.2% (4/18) recipients (ET in season) and i
n 28.5% (2/7) recipients (ET out of season); the mentioned rates are signif
icantly lower (P < 0.05) than rates found in other experimental groups. Tra
nsfer of embryos preserved by the routine procedure in 1.5 M ethylene glyco
l was successful in 79.4% (27/34) recipients (ET in season) and in 50.0% (8
/16, P < 0.01) recipients (ET out of season). Transfer of embryos vitrified
in medium composed of 30% (v/v) glycerol, 20% PCS, 50% 2 M sucrose solutio
n in tridistilled water resulted in 60.0 % (3/5) and 8.3% (1/12, P < 0.05)
pregnancy rate.