Transvaginal follicle aspiration in Thai swamp buffalo heifers using different vacuum pressures after FSH pretreatment (Bubalus bubalis)

Abstract

The objective of the experiment was to study oocyte recovery by transvaginal, ultrasound-guided, follicle aspiration, from Thai swamp buffalo using different vacuum pressures. Six adult buffalo heifers, aged 2.5-3.0 yrs were treated with a total dose of 280 mg FSH, given twice a day in a divided doses over a three day period (60/60 mg, 50/50 mg, 30/30 mg) at d7 after progesterone implant. Three vacuum pressures were used; 100 (n=12), 80 (n=12) and 60 mmHg (n=12) and all of the pressures were performed in each animal. The animals were treated repeatedly and collection took place using 2 sets of each pressure every 2 months, giving a total of 36 collections from each animal. The oocyte recovery rates from each pressure were 81.2% (69/85) 79.1% (53/67) and 90.3% (93/103) for 100, 80 and 60 mmHg respectively. The number of oocytes collected per donor were 5.33 ± 3.27, 4.42 ± 2.71 and 7.75 ± 4.31 respectively. The quality of the oocytes did not improved with the lower vacuum pressure. In conclusion, the application of FSH pretreatment improves the yield of oocytes from Thai, swamp buffalo heifers after gonadotropin treatment when using the vacuum pressures between 60-100 mmHg.