Development Capacity of Bovine Follicular Oocytes Collected from Ovaries of Pubertal Heifers Obtained through a Spay Device

Abstract

Bovine follicular oocytes from ovaries of pubertal heifers or slaughtered adult cows were matured, fertilized with frozen-thawed spermatozoa and cultured with cumulus cells. Although cleavage and development rates to the blastocyst stage of oocytes from pubertal heifers were significantly lower than those from slaughtered adult cows, the number of blastocysts per ovary was similar in the two groups. These findings show that oocytes from pubertal heifers are inferior in quality than those from slarughtered adult cows. To confirm the full developmental capacity of oocytes from pubertal heifers, 6 blastocysts were transferred to 3 recipient cows, and one cow became pregnant.