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Evaluation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting pregnancy rate in dual-purpose cows under tropical conditions

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Abstract

Embryo transfer (ET) in bovines was created with the purpose of increasing the pregnancy rate (PR) of animals with high genetic value; however, multiple factors have been found to affect the success of this reproductive biotechnology. These factors are frequently grouped in intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Thus, the objective of the present experiments was to assess the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the pregnancy rate under tropical conditions. To do this a total of 648 embryo transfer (ET) procedures were performed between January and December 2021. The intrinsic factors were size and location of the corpus luteum, body condition, genetic group, age and parity; while extrinsic factors were location of the farm, environmental comfort, season in which the ET was carried out, prevailing weather conditions, and the preservation, quality, and the development stage of embryos at the time of ET. A χi2 was used for analysis of main effects, and logistic regression analysis to calculate the probability of pregnancy and the association between intrinsic or extrinsic factors; additionally, a multivariate analysis of data clusters was used to find a linkage between the effects. While recipient female age had a negative effect (Odds ratio = 0.345—0.871) on PR (p < 0.05), being higher in younger cows, the rest of the intrinsic factors did not affect the PR. The significant (p < 0.05) extrinsic factors were THI category, season of year and type of embryo preservation, showing that the highest PR (p < 0.05) was obtained in the comfort THI category, during the winter season and using fresh embryos for transfer. The clustering analysis did not show any linkage between PR and intrinsic factors, while a linkage (p < 0.05) was found with season of the year and embryo preservation as extrinsic factors. It is concluded that age of the recipient cow and environmental conditions at the time of the embryo transfer are key factors to be considered for a successful pregnancy rate from in-vitro ET programs using dual-purpose cows under tropical conditions.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to it belongs to the farms that kindly participated in the study, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to BDM.

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  1. School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Veracruz, 91710, Veracruz, Mexico

    Alondra Zavaleta-Martínez, Manuel Barrientos-Morales, Patricia Cervantes-Acosta, Antonio Hernández-Beltran & Belisario Domínguez-Mancera

  2. Department of Clinical Studies Section of Reproduction and Behavior, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, 19348, USA

    Victor Abasalon Medina

  3. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Tecnológico Nacional de México/Veracruz Institute of Technology, 91897, Veracruz, Mexico

    Araceli Rodríguez-Andrade

  4. Institute of Agricultural Sciences of the Autonomous University of Baja California, Mexicali, México

    Leonel Avendaño-Reyes

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The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: Study conception and design: Alondra Zavaleta-Martínez, Manuel Barrientos-Morales, Victor Abasalon Medina, Antonio Hernández Beltran, Belisario Domínguez-Mancera; Data collection: Alondra Zavaleta-Martínez, Manuel Barrientos-Morales, Patricia Cervantes-Acosta; Analysis and interpretation of results: Alondra Zavaleta-Martínez, Belisario Domínguez-Mancera, Araceli Rodríguez-Andrade, Leonel Avendaño-Reyes; Draft manuscript preparation: Leonel Avendaño-Reyes, Antonio Hernández Beltran, Belisario Domínguez-Mancera. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Zavaleta-Martínez, A., Barrientos-Morales, M., Medina, V.A. et al. Evaluation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting pregnancy rate in dual-purpose cows under tropical conditions. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 163 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-04016-9

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