• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.91-102
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• 1997

This study was carried out to enhance the efficiency of Korean Native cattle embryos and establish the techniques for producing the twin calves. Bisected embryos without zona pellucida which were divided by simple method not using holding pipette or whole two embryos were transferred to recipients.The pedigrees of monozygotic twin calves produced by transfer of bisected pair embryos were identified. The results obtained were as follows ; The average successful bisection rate was 89.16%. The embryos of blastocyst stage (91.66%) were bisected successfully at significantly (P<0.05) higher rate, compared with the morula stage embryos (86.66%). The average survival rate of bisected embryos following 24 hours culture was 59.02%. The survival rate of morula stage embryos (62.50%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of blastocyst stage embryos (55.5%). For the production of monozygotic twin calves, ten pairs of flesh or frozen demi-em- lymphocytes antigen, the twin calves produced by transfer of bisected pair embryos of Korean Native cattle were identified in pedigrees and confirmed as monozygotes.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 1999

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of co-culture system(bovine oviduct epithelial cells; BOEC) and defined culture system (modified TALP ; mTALP) on the conception of embryos transferred, and pregnancy and twin birth rates after transfer of fresh or frozen-thawed bovine blastocysts produced in vitro were also evaluated. Oocytes from the slaughterhouse ovaries were matured and fertilized using general protocol. The results obtained were as the following. The pregnancy rate after transfer was higher in co-culture group than in mTALP group, but was not signficantly different, and there is no difference between fresh embryo group and frozen-thawed embryo group in conception rate. The conception rate was not different whether 3∼4 blastocysts or 2 blatocysts transferred into a recipient, but the production rate of twin calves was significantly higher (p<0.05) when 3∼4 embryos transferred. The average birth weight of twin calves(24.38kg) was numerically, but not significantly lighter than that of single calves(26.68kg).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1735-1740
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• 2005

Forty-two single-bearing and 42 twin-bearing mature Angus${\times}$Hereford cows were allocated, seven per cell to 3 replications of 2 stocking rates (3.2 cows/ha; medium stocking rate [MSR], and 3.8 cows/ha; high stocking rate [HSR]) to graze summer-active and winter-active pastures from late pregnancy to the weaning of their calves. Cow liveweights and growth of calves were recorded as well as estimates of pasture quantity and forage intake. Pasture quantity did not differ in the paddocks grazed by single- and twin-bearing cows during pregnancy, nor effectively did forage intake. Subsequently, intake was higher during mid-lactation especially with twin-rearing cows (25% higher than single-rearing cows at the MSR; 9% at the HSR). However, quantity of pasture decreased for twin-rearing cows and was less than that available to single-rearing cows as lactation progressed. Liveweights of twinrearing cows decreased by 16% from late pregnancy to weaning at the MSR, and by 14% at the HSR, compared to decreases of 1% for single-rearing cows. Twin calves were lighter at birth, had slower growth rates, and were lighter at weaning than single calves. In spite of weaning smaller calves twinning increased the output (kg of calf weaned) per cow and per ha, and increased the efficiency (kg calf weaned per unit of forage eaten by the cow) over single calf production by 46% at the MSR and by 58% at the HSR. Twinning also increased the marginal returns from investment in high input pastures required by the enterprise.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.155-162
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• 1999

This study was carried out to establish an effective system for embryo transfer of techniques by analyzing several factors affecting the gestation length and the weight changes of calves produced from embryo transfer in Korean cattle. The results obtained in study on factors affecting the gestation length and the weight changes of calves produced from embryo transfer were as fallow; 1) The gestation length and the birth weight did not differ between male and female, but the weight changes after birth were remarkablely different between sex(P<0.05). 2) The gestation length between heifers and cows was not different, and body weights at birth and 6 months were remarkabley heavy in cows(P<0.05). Weight changes after 6 months were not different. 3) The gestation length and the birth weight were significantly different between the single and twin calving (P<0.05). Weight of twin at 6 and 12 months were remarkabely light. 4) Calving seasons did not affect the gestation length the and the birth weight. Weaning weight was significantly heavy(P<0.05), but weight changes after weaning were no different among the calving seasons. Conclusivley, this results suggest that cows will be better when considering growth of calves and twin produced from embryo trnsfer in Korean cattle.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.307-313
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• 1997

Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of quality and viability of bovine blastocysts derived from in-vitro culture(IVC) of in vitro matured and fertilized(IVM-IVF) oocytes during their transport 2 hours. Follicular oocytes were collected form ovaries obtained at a slaughterhouse and were cultured for 24 hours in TCM-199. The IVM oocytes were fertilized in vitro with caudal epididymis spermatozoa. Fertilized oocytes were cultured for 7 to 9 days, and embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage were used for the experiment. The blastocysts, packed in straws with storage medium that consisted TCM-199 with HEPES equilibratd in air and supplemented with 10% FCS were transported at 39~(2.0 h). The quality of blastocysts was assessed and ranked as A(excel-lent), B(Good), fair or poor after transportation. The percentages of A and B grade blastocysts after transport duration for < 1 hours(97.7%) were similar to the result from transport duration for 1~2 hours (92.9%) and 2~3 hours(89.6%), but significantly(P<0.05) higher than transpot duration for 3~4 hours(76.3%). The percentages of A and B grade blastocysts after transport duration for two hours from developed blastocyst at 7day(100%) and 8day(85.0%) were higher 9day(96.6%) and >9day (40.0%). And early to expanded blastocyst produced in vitro were transferred to recipient cow by additional embryos at 7 and 8th day after AI. Three of them were pregnant to term and produced four twin calves, and two calves was premature birth. The gestation lengths of male to female and female to female twin were 282 and 281 days, respectively. And birth weight of twin calves were male to female(22.Skg) and female to female twin(20.3Okg), respectively.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 2000

This study was carried out to improve a technique of embryo transfer for twin calves production in Hanwoo cattle. Blastocysts for the donor of embryo transfer were classified into three criteria by accessment of morphology; early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyst. Tow embryos were introduced transcervically into utrerine horn either of Hanwoo or Holstein by ipsilaterally or contralaterally to the corpus luteum. Thiry-six out of 57 recipients cows were inseminated by artificially on the next day of estrus, and followed by transfer of embryos into contralaterally. The pregnance rates of recipients following transfer of bovine embryos of day 7, 8 and 9 was 43.5, 18.2 and 8.3%, respectively. These results appeared that these was a significant (P<0.05) difference between on day-7 embryos and day-9 embryos, but not between on day-8 and day-9 embryos. Although there was not significant(P<0.05) difference in the pregnancy rates between the blastocysts(11/25, 44%) and expanded blastocysts(2/19, 10.5%) and between the blastocysts and early blastocysts(2/13, 15.4%), the embryos at blastocyst stage are more suitable than others for obtaining higher rate of pregnancy. There was no significant difference on pregnancy of the embryos transferred prior to presence(6/21, 29%) or absence (9/36, 25%) of artificial insemination. On pregnancy of Holstein, 2(15.4%) out of 13 recipients were pregnant in heifer. Similar Pregnancy rates were obtained between 1∼2 parities and 3∼4 parities by 30% (6/20) and 27.3%(3/11), respectively. Taken together, there was not significant difference in pregnancy rate due to small number of recipients used for this experiment. Both of Hanwoo and Holstein introduced the embryos by contralsterally to the corpus luteum were slightly higher pregnancy rate compare to by ipsilaterally (12/41, 29.3% vs, 3/16, 18.8%). The ratio of production of twin and single calves in Holstein was 20% (9/45) and 2.2% (1/45), respectively. However, in Hanwoo cows both of production of twin and single were similar as 8%. This result suggests that Holstein as recipients was superior to Hanwoo cows for production of twin calves. Out of all 15 pregnant, 12(80%) were produced a total of 22 normal calves in which the others composed of abnormal, as judging as 2(13.3%) for abortion and 1(6.6%) for stillbirth during the pregnant period.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to improve the efficiency of bovine embryo transfer by transferring of Hanwoo embryos into Hanwoo or Holstein recipients. The cryopreserved or fresh in vitro produced(IVP) embryos were transferred into uterine horn contralaterally or ipsilaterally to the corpus luteum. The recipients were inseminated by artificially on the next day of estrus. The pregnancy was diagnosed by rectal palpation at 60∼90 days after transfer of the embryos. The pregnancy rate by transfer of one or two embryos was 78%(7/9) and 74%(31/42), respectively. The pregnancy rates according to the grade of corpus lutea of recipients was 75% (20/27) and 82.0%(18/22) at the grade of A and B, respectively. Ten(67.0%) of 15 Holstein recipients transferred with IVP Hanwoo embryos and 5(42.0%) of 12 Holstein recipients transferred with frozen IVP Hanwoo embryos were pregnant. The single and twin calving ratio in Hanwoos was 77.0%(10/13) and 23.0%(3.13) in the recipients transferred with IVP embryos and 64.0%(7/10) and 27.0%(3/10) in the recipients transferred with frozen IVP embryos, respectively. Twenty-four pregnant cows following transfer of IVP embryos, 21(88.0%) calved the normal calves, and 2(8.3%) aborted. When the frozen IVP embryos were transferred, 16 pregnant cows calved 14(88.0%) normal calves and 2(13.0%) aborted. In conclusion, when one or two IVP bovine embryos were transferred into recipients, the A and B grade of corpus luteum resulted in high pregnancy rates. For the production of twin calves, transfer of the IVP or frozen IVP embryos could be suitable.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.301-307
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• 1996

This study was carried out to produce twin calves by embryo transfer in Hanwoo and investigate the pregnancy and twin rate by recipient's conditions. All recipients were bred at estrus by artificial insemination with Hanwoo semen and then transfered an additional embryo produced in vivo or in vitro to tbe uterine horn contralateral to the corpus luteum on Day 7. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. The pregnancy rate was higher in young recipients of 3 years (68.8%) than in old ones of 10 years and greater(36.4%). And for CL size pregnancy rate was 57.9, 45.4 and 60.1% in large, medium and small size of CL of recipients, respectively. 2. 447recipients were transferred an additional embryos at 7th day after Al and average pregnancy rate was 57.5% and twin production rate was 22.2%. 3. Average pregnancy and twin production rate by direct transfer methods of frozenthawed IVF embryos was 56.0 and 16.7%. 4. The ratio of male to female twin in a total of 55 twin pairs was 54.6%, and average gestation lengths of male to female and female to female twin were 280.6$\pm$5.4 and 279.715.4 days, respectively. Average birth weight of twins was beavior in male and male twin(23.2i5.8kg) than in male and female twin(20.5$\pm$2.6kg).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.717-722
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• 1992

An experiment was conducted to examine the feasibility of producing multiple calves using embryo transfer in Japanese Black cattle. Milk yield of cows and forage intake of calves were measured for 11 cows with single calves, 14 cows with twins and one cow with triplets. The means of 26 weeks cumulative milk yield were 854, 1028 and 1271 kg for cows having singles, twins and triplets, respectively. Male birth weights for single calves, twins and triplet were 34.9, 26.6 and 19.9 kg, and female ones were 31.7, 24.1 and 22.1 kg, respectively. Weight and daily gain of calves were affected by weeks (W), sex (S), the number of calves (N), parity, birth season, $W{\times}N$, $S{\times}N$ and regression on milk yield. Growth rate was higher for single calves than for twins until about 9 weeks of age, then weights increased at a similar rate. Male calf weaning weights for singles, twins and triplets were 207.0, 177.1 and 162.2 kg, and those for females were 185.4, 151.6 and 180.4 kg, respectively. Average regression coefficients of calf growth on milk yield were significant, and single calf was affected more than twin calves by increment of milk yield. As the number of calves per cow increased, hay intake of calves decreased and concentrate intake tended to increase between 6 and 13 weeks of age.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1020-1028
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• 2003

We analyzed the records that distribution of the twinning rate, sex of calves and complications of other diseases with twin pregnancy from 10,012 dairy cows for 5-year period from 70 dairy farms in Paju and Goyang cities. Twining rate was increased for 5-