ADVANCING GENETIC GAIN IN BOVINE

摘要

This invention relates to a method for reducing the generation interval and advancing genetic gain in bovines via pregnancies created by oocytes harvested from select prepubertal female calves less than six months of age and/or from smaller framed bovine breeds less than ten months of age, and alternatively less than nine months of age. Said animals are treated with a hormone regiment to advance the first pubertal estrus in order to retrieve oocytes for fertilization and implantation. Oocytes are collected from said animals via laparoscopic aspiration. In the case of oocytes that have not matured in vivo, the oocytes are transferred to and cultured to maturation. Once matured, oocytes are fertilized, and the resultant embryos are transferred to synchronized recipients.