Development of Transported Meishan Pig Embryos after Transfer to Recipients

Abstract

Embryos collected surgically on Day 5 from Meishan sows and gilts were transported from Ibaraki prefecture of Miyagi prefecture (about 300km) by car. During transportation, embryos were in tubes containing m-BMOC-2 maintained at 37.5°C in a vacuum bottle. After arrival in Miyagi prefecture, the tubes were then transferred to an incubator (5% CO₂ in air, 37.5°C) until transfer. Twenty to 28hrs after collection, 54 embryos were surgically transferred to four Day 5 hybrid (LWD) recipient gilts. Three recipient had a total of 13 normally developing fetuses at slaughter on 48th day of pregnancy. The embryo survival rate was 24%.