Pregnancies attained after collection and transfer of oocytes from ovaries of five euthanatized mares

Abstract

After euthanasia, ovaries were removed from 5 horses and shipped to a laboratory where 46 oocytes were collected. The oocytes were cultured for 24 to 30 hours, and 36 oocytes were transferred to 10 recipient mares via flank laparotomies. Recipient mares were inseminated with semen from various stallions. Sixteen days after transfer, 4 of the recipients were pregnant with at least 1 embryonic vesicle. Embryonic death occurred in 3 recipients, whereas a healthy live foal was born from 1 recipient. Ovaries from valuable mares can be a source of viable oocytes after death of the mare. For shipping to a laboratory, fluctuations in temperature should be minimized and the ovaries should not be chilled.