Improving bovine in vitro embryo production through follicular flushing and next generation embryo culture

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"Significant advances are being made in technologies associated with cattle breeding that seek to improve production efficiency, animal health and welfare whilst minimising environmental impact. These advances are motivated, in part, by the increased global demand for milk and beef, and a public desire that this is achieved in a sustainable manner. This project seeks to develop in vitro embryo production as a tool to facilitate enhanced genetic improvement. Specifically, it will manufacture new equipment to recover more oocytes (eggs) per donor-cow cycle (i.e. via ovarian-follicular flushing) and to create a new generation of improved media for the culture of embryos within the laboratory. Collectively, these technical innovations will increase embryo production efficiency and lead to higher pregnancy rates following transfer. This, in turn, will lead to increased rates of genetic improvement by breeding from only the best cows.Cattle breeders are eager to engage with and utilise this technology in order to improve the health, productivity and efficiency of their herds. This will enable farmers to produce and rear animals more suited to their farming system with greater precision. This will, in turn, reduce demand for resources such as animal feed, fertilisers and pesticides, and a reduction in animal waste and greenhouse gas emissions."