In vitro production of Sudanese camel (Camelus dromedarius) embryos from epididymal spermatozoa and follicular oocytes of slaughtered animals.

Application of assisted reproductive technology in camelidea, such as artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer, has been slow in comparison to that for other livestock species. In Egypt, there are few attempts to establish in vitro maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) techniques in dromedary camel. The present study was carried out to produce Sudanese camel embryos using in vitro matured oocytes and epididymal spermatozoa. Dromedary camel ovaries were collected from abattoirs and then, the oocytes were aspirated from all the visible follicles on the ovarian surface (~2-8 mm in a diameter). Meanwhile, Fetal Dromedary Camel Serum (FDCS) was obtained from camel fetuses after slaughtering. Thereafter, only Cumulus Oocyte Complexes (COCs) were matured in vitro in the Tissue Culture Medium (TCM-199) complemented with 10% FDCS. Spermatozoa required for in vitro fertilization were collected from testes (epididymal cauda) of the slaughtered camel bulls. The results clearly showed that the maturation rate of oocytes at metaphase II was about 59.5% while the fertilization rate was around 70.4%. Intriguingly, the embryo rates determined were 13.1%, in 2-cell; 0.0%, in 4-cell; 34.7%, in 8-16% cell; 39.1%, in morula and 13.1% in a blastocyst stage. This study represented a successful in vitro production of Sudanese dromedary camel embryos from epididymal sperm cells and in vitro matured oocytes recovered from slaughtered camels.

Dystocia in Friesian cows and its effects on postpartum reproductive performance and milk production.

A total of 1,243 records for 585 dairy Friesian cows from 1997-2004 were used to study the factors affecting dystocia and its effects on reproductive performance and milk production. The overall incidence of dystocia was 6.9%. The percentage of dystocia decreased with increasing live body weight, age, and parity of cows (P < 0.05); however, it increased with increasing birth weight of calves (P < 0.05). The highest percentage of dystocia was detected in winter season, but the least percentage was in summer season (P < 0.05). The percentage of incidence of dystocia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with winter feeding compared to summer ration (8.2% vs. 5.1%). The percentage of incidence of dystocia was significantly (P < 0.05) higher with twinning than single calving (15.5% vs. 6.5%), while not significantly affected by the sex of born calves. Incidence of dystocia had adverse effects on reproductive performance and milk yield. The service interval, service period, days open, and calving interval were significantly (P < 0.05) longer in cows afflicted with dystocia compared to normal cows. The conception rate was lower (P < 0.05), but the number of service per conception was higher (P < 0.05) in cows afflicted with dystocia compared to normal cows (60.5% vs. 73.0% and 3.4 vs. 2.7, respectively). Average daily milk yield was lower (P < 0.05) by 1 kg for cows with incidence of dystocia compared to normal cows.

Effect of ovary preservation period on recovery rate and categories of dromedary camel oocytes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different periods of ovary preservation at 25-30 °C for 5, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 24 h on recovery rate and oocyte categories of dromedary camel oocytes. Camel ovaries were collected from El-Bassatein slaughterhouse, Cairo. The collected ovaries were placed immediately after slaughtering into thermos in saline solution (0.9% NaCl) supplemented with antibiotics (100 IU penicillin and 100 µg streptomycin/ml) at 25-30 °C and transported to the laboratory within 4-5 h. Ovaries were washed three times with warmed (30 °C) phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and one time with ethanol (70%). All visible follicles on the ovarian surface (2-8 mm in diameter) were counted. Oocytes were aspirated using a 20-gauge hypodermic needle. Oocyte yield was recorded and the number of oocytes/ovary was calculated. Oocytes were classified into five categories (compact, partial denuded, denuded, shrunken and cleaved oocytes). Results show that average number of follicles on each ovary was not significantly affected by preservation period, although tended to reduce only after 5 h of ovary preservation. However, this number was insignificantly reduced by increasing period of ovary preservation more than 5 up to 24 h. Average number of oocytes on each ovary was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced only between 5 and 6 h of ovary preservation. Average number of oocytes showed higher reduction rate between 5 and 6 h from 12.4 to 9.3/ovary as well as between 9 and 12 h. Oocyte recovery rate showed insignificant decrease from 88.1% at 5 h to 78.6% at 9 h of preservation. However, it showed significant (P < 0.05) reduction to 62.0% between 9 and 12 h, then insignificantly decreased to 58.6 at 24 h of preservation of the ovaries. Frequency distribution and recovery rate of each category was the highest for compact oocytes and the lowest for cleaved oocytes at all periods of preservation. Increasing preservation period significantly (P < 0.05) decreased frequency distribution of compact and cleaved oocytes, while increased frequency distribution of partial denuded, denude and shrunken oocytes. It might be concluded from the present results that the preservation of dromedary camel ovaries at 25-30 °C for 5-6 h was effective for maintaining the oocytes quality and recovery rate compared with the other preservation periods.