Pregnancy loss in cattle with emphasis on embryo transfer programs
Roberto Sartori; Mirela Balistrieri; Lucas Oliveira e Silva; Carlos Eduardo Cardoso Consentini; Leonardo de França e Melo; Guilherme Correa de Sousa Pontes; Douglas Gaitkoski
Abstract
Keywords
References
Ahmad N, Schrick FN, Butcher RL, Inskeep EK. Fertilization rate and embryo development in relation to persistent follicles and peripheral estradiol-17-beta in beef-cows. Biol Reprod. 1994;50:65.
Albaaj A, Durocher J, LeBlanc SJ, Dufour S. Meta-analysis of the incidence of pregnancy losses in dairy cows at different stages to 90 days of gestation. JDS Communications. 2023;4(2):144-8.
Atkins JA, Smith MF, MacNeil MD, Jinks EM, Abreu FM, Alexander LJ, Geary TW. Pregnancy establishment and maintenance in cattle. J Anim Sci. 2013;91(2):722-33.
Ayalon N. A review of embryonic mortality in cattle. J Reprod Fertil. 1978;54(2):483-93.
El Azzi MS, Cardoso JL, Landeo RA, Pontes JHF, Souza JC, Martins JPN. Effect of inducing accessory corpus luteum formation with gonadotropin-releasing hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin on the day of embryo transfer on fertility of recipient dairy heifers and lactating cows. JDS Communications. 2023;4(2):155-60.
Berg DK, Ledgard A, Donnison M, McDonald R, Henderson HV, Meier S, Juengel JL, Burke CR. The first week following insemination is the period of major pregnancy failure in pasture-grazed dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2022;105(11):9253-70.
Besbaci M, Abdelli A, Minviel JJ, Belabdi I, Kaidi R, Raboisson D. Association of pregnancy per artificial insemination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin administered during the luteal phase after artificial insemination in dairy cows: a meta-analysis. J Dairy Sci. 2020;103(2):2006-18.
Boyd H, Bacsich P, Young A, McCracken JA. Fertilization and embryonic survival in dairy cattle. Br Vet J. 1969;125(2):87-97.
Carvalho MR, Peñagaricano F, Santos JEP, DeVries TJ, McBride BW, Ribeiro ES. Long-term effects of postpartum clinical disease on milk production, reproduction, and culling of dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2019;102(12):11701-17.
Cedeño A, Tríbulo A, Tríbulo RJ, Andrada S, Mapletoft RJ, Bó GA. Effect of estrus expression or treatment with GnRH on pregnancies per embryo transfer and pregnancy losses in beef recipients synchronized with estradiol/progesterone-based protocols. Theriogenology. 2020;157:378-87.
Chebel RC, Santos JEP, Reynolds JP, Cerri RLA, Juchem SO, Overton M. Factors affecting conception rate after artificial insemination and pregnancy loss in lactating dairy cows. Anim Reprod Sci. 2004;84(3-4):239-55.
Chen F, Hou Y, Zhu X, Mei C, Guo R, Shi Z. Impact of accessory corpus luteum induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin on pregnancy rates of dairy cattle following embryo transfer: a META-analysis. Vet Sci. 2023;10(5):309.
Consentini CEC, Abadia T, Galindez JPA, Lopes ALM, Ferro PPC, Pazini YE, Faria NV, Machado F, Capella T, dos Santos TN, Duarte M, Ferreira PP, Matos LMF, Ferreira DR, Campos E, Prata A, Melo LF, Wiltbank MC, Sartori R. Fertility programs for lactating dairy cows: a novel Presynch + Timed AI program (Double E-Synch) produces similar ovarian dynamics, synchronization, and fertility as Double-Ovsynch. J Dairy Sci. 2025;108(4):4435-47.
Crowe AD, Sánchez JM, Moore SG, McDonald M, McCabe MS, Randi F, Lonergan P, Butler ST. Incidence and timing of pregnancy loss following timed artificial insemination or timed embryo transfer with a fresh or frozen in vitro-produced embryo. J Dairy Sci. 2025;108(1):1022-38.
Crowe AD, Sánchez JM, Moore SG, McDonald M, Rodrigues R, Morales MF, Orsi de Freitas L, Randi F, Furlong J, Browne JA, Rabaglino MB, Lonergan P, Butler ST. Fertility in seasonal-calving pasture-based lactating dairy cows following timed artificial insemination or timed embryo transfer with fresh or frozen in vitro–produced embryos. J Dairy Sci. 2024;107(3):1788-804.
Diskin MG, Sreenan JM. Fertilization and embryonic mortality rates in beef heifers after artificial insemination. J Reprod Fertil. 1980;59(2):463-8.
Diskin MG, Waters SM, Parr MH, Kenny DA. Pregnancy losses in cattle: potential for improvement. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2016;28(1-2):83-93.
Domingues RR, Andrade JPN, Cunha TO, Madureira G, Moallem U, Gomez-Leon V, Martins JPN, Wiltbank MC. Is pregnancy loss initiated by embryonic death or luteal regression? Profiles of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins during elevated progesterone and pregnancy loss. JDS Communications. 2023;4(2):149-54.
Edelhoff INF, Pereira MHC, Bromfield JJ, Vasconcelos JLM, Santos JEP. Inflammatory diseases in dairy cows: risk factors and associations with pregnancy after embryo transfer. J Dairy Sci. 2020;103(12):11970-87.
Forde N, Carter F, Spencer TE, Bazer FW, Sandra O, Mansouri-Attia N, Okumu LA, McGettigan PA, Mehta JP, McBride R, O’Gaora P, Roche JF, Lonergan P. Conceptus-induced changes in the endometrial transcriptome: how soon does the cow know she is pregnant? Biol Reprod. 2011;85(1):144-56.
Forde N, Lonergan P. Interferon-tau and fertility in ruminants. Reproduction. 2017;154(5):F33-43.
Fraenkel L, Cohn F. Experimentelle untersuchungen des corpus luteum auf die insertion des eies. Theorie von Born. 1901;20:294-300.
Gábor G, Kastelic J, Abonyi‐Tóth Z, Gábor P, Endrődi T, Balogh O. Pregnancy loss in dairy cattle: relationship of ultrasound, blood pregnancy‐specific protein B, progesterone and production variables. Reprod Domest Anim. 2016;51(4):467-73.
García-Guerra A, Sala RV, Carrenho-Sala L, Baez GM, Motta JCL, Fosado M, Moreno JF, Wiltbank MC. Postovulatory treatment with GnRH on day 5 reduces pregnancy loss in recipients receiving an in vitro produced expanded blastocyst. Theriogenology. 2020;141:202-10.
Geisert RD, Short EC, Morgan GL. Establishment of pregnancy in domestic species. In: Geisert RD, Zavy MT, editors. Embryonic mortality in domestic species. 1st ed. Florida: CRC Press; 1994. p. 23–53.
Grealy M, Diskin MG, Sreenan JM. Protein content of cattle oocytes and embryos from the two-cell to the elongated blastocyst stage at day 16. J Reprod Fertil. 1996;107(2):229-33.
Hansen PJ. Embryonic mortality in cattle from the embryo’s perspective. J Anim Sci. 2002;80(Suppl 2):E33-44.
Lonergan P, Sánchez JM. Symposium review: progesterone effects on early embryo development in cattle. J Dairy Sci. 2020;103(9):8698-707.
Magata F, Urakawa M, Matsuda F, Oono Y. Developmental kinetics and viability of bovine embryos produced in vitro with sex-sorted semen. Theriogenology. 2021;161:243-51.
Magnus V. Ovariets betydning for svangerskabet med saerligt hensyntil corpus luteum. Nor Mag Laegevidenskaben. 1901;62:1138–42.
Mann G, Lamming G. The influence of progesterone during early pregnancy in cattle. Reprod Domest Anim. 1999;34(3-4):269-74.
Mann GE, Lamming GE, Robinson RS, Wathes DC. The regulation of interferon-t production and uterine hormone receptors during early pregnancy. J Reprod Fertil. 1999;54:317-28.
Martins JPN, Wang D, Mu N, Rossi GF, Martini AP, Martins VR, Pursley JR. Level of circulating concentrations of progesterone during ovulatory follicle development affects timing of pregnancy loss in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2018;101(11):10505-25.
Maurer RR, Chenault JR. Fertilization failure and embryonic mortality in parous and nonparous beef cattle. J Anim Sci. 1983;56(5):1186-9.
Mercadante VRG, Dias NW, Timlin CL, Pancini S. Economic consequences of pregnancy loss in beef cattle. J Anim Sci. 2020;98(Suppl 4):124.
Monteiro PLJ Jr, Nascimento AB, Pontes GCS, Fernandes GO, Melo LF, Wiltbank MC, Sartori R. Progesterone supplementation after ovulation: effects on corpus luteum function and on fertility of dairy cows subjected to AI or ET. Theriogenology. 2015;84(7):1215-24.
Monteiro PLJ, Sartori R, Canavessi AMO, Melo LF, Motta JCL, Consentini CEC, Wiltbank MC. Accessory corpus luteum regression during pregnancy I: timing, physiology, and P4 profiles. Reproduction. 2021;162(6):473-82.
Munhoz AK, Cooke RF, Prado CP, Munhoz SK, de Sousa MCG, da Silva VMP, Pohler KG, Cappellozza BI, Vasconcelos JLM. Characterizing pregnancy losses in lactating Holstein cows receiving a fixed-timed artificial insemination protocol. Anim Reprod Sci. 2025;272:107644.
O’Hara L, Forde N, Kelly AK, Lonergan P. Effect of bovine blastocyst size at embryo transfer on day 7 on conceptus length on day 14: can supplementary progesterone rescue small embryos? Theriogenology. 2014;81(8):1123-8.
Okuda K, Miyamoto Y, Skarzynski DJ. Regulation of endometrial prostaglandin F2α synthesis during luteolysis and early pregnancy in cattle. Domest Anim Endocrinol. 2002;23(1-2):255-64.
Palma GA, Olivier NS, Neumüller C, Sinowatz F. Effects of sex‐sorted spermatozoa on the efficiency of
Pereira MHC, Wiltbank MC, Vasconcelos JLM. Expression of estrus improves fertility and decreases pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows that receive artificial insemination or embryo transfer. J Dairy Sci. 2016;99(3):2237-47.
Pohler KG, Pereira MHC, Lopes FR, Lawrence JC, Keisler DH, Smith MF, Vasconcelos JLM, Green JA. Circulating concentrations of bovine pregnancy-associated glycoproteins and late embryonic mortality in lactating dairy herds. J Dairy Sci. 2016;99(2):1584-94.
Pursley JR, Santos A, Minela T. Review: initial increase in pregnancy-specific protein B in maternal circulation after artificial insemination is a key indicator of embryonic survival in dairy cows. Animal. 2023;17(Suppl 1):100746.
Reese ST, Franco GA, Poole RK, Hood R, Fernadez Montero L, Oliveira Filho RV, Cooke RF, Pohler KG. Pregnancy loss in beef cattle: a meta-analysis. Anim Reprod Sci. 2020;212:106251.
Revah I, Butler WR. Prolonged dominance of follicles and reduced viability of bovine oocytes. J Reprod Fertil. 1996;106(1):39-47.
Ribeiro ES, Gomes G, Greco LF, Cerri RLA, Vieira-Neto A, Monteiro PLJ Jr, Lima FS, Bisinotto RS, Thatcher WW, Santos JEP. Carryover effect of postpartum inflammatory diseases on developmental biology and fertility in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2016;99(3):2201-20.
Rivera FA, Mendonça LGD, Lopes G Jr, Santos JEP, Perez RV, Amstalden M, Correa-Calderón A, Chebel RC. Reduced progesterone concentration during growth of the first follicular wave affects embryo quality but has no effect on embryo survival post transfer in lactating dairy cows. Reproduction. 2011;141(3):333-42.
Rizos D, Scully S, Kelly AK, Ealy AD, Moros R, Duffy P, Al Naib A, Forde N, Lonergan P. Effects of human chorionic gonadotrophin administration on Day 5 after oestrus on corpus luteum characteristics, circulating progesterone and conceptus elongation in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2012;24(3):472-81.
Roche JF, Bolandl M, McGeady T. Reproductive wastage following artificial insemination of heifers. Vet Rec. 1981;109(18):401-4.
Santos A, Minela T, Branen J, Pursley JR. Time to increase in pregnancy-specific protein B following artificial insemination is a direct determinant of subsequent pregnancy loss in lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2023;106(5):3734-47.
Santos JEP, Thatcher WW, Chebel RC, Cerri RLA, Galvão KN. The effect of embryonic death rates in cattle on the efficacy of estrus synchronization programs. Anim Reprod Sci. 2004;82–83:513-35.
Sartori R, Bastos MR, Wiltbank MC. Factors affecting fertilisation and early embryo quality in single- and superovulated dairy cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev. 2010;22(1):151-8.
Sartori R, Haughian JM, Shaver RD, Rosa GJ, Wiltbank MC. Comparison of ovarian function and circulating steroids in estrous cycles of Holstein heifers and lactating cows. J Dairy Sci. 2004;87(4):905-20.
Sartori R, Sartor-Bergfelt R, Mertens SA, Guenther JN, Parrish JJ, Wiltbank MC. Fertilization and early embryonic development in heifers and lactating cows in summer and lactating and dry cows in winter. J Dairy Sci. 2002;85(11):2803-12.
Sreenan JM, Diskin MG, Morris DG. Embryo survival rate in cattle: a major limitation to the achievement of high fertility. BSAP Occasional Publication. 2001;26(1):93-104.
Stringfellow DA, Givens MD. Manual of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS). 4th ed. Champaign: IETS; 2010.
Thatcher WW, Binelli M, Arnold D, Mattos R, Badinga L, Moreira F, Staples CR, Guzeloglu A. Endocrine and physiological events from ovulation to establishment of pregnancy in cattle. BSAP Occasional Publication. 2001;26(1):81-91.
Vandresen CC, Silva LO, Lopes ALM, Stolf RL, Pontes GCS, Sartori R. Factors affecting efficiency of artificial insemination or transfer of in vitro produced embryos in dairy herds. Anim Reprod. 2024;21:81.
De Vries A. Economic value of pregnancy in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci. 2006;89(10):3876-85.
Wiltbank MC, Baez GM, Garcia-Guerra A, Toledo MZ, Monteiro PLJ, Melo LF, Ochoa JC, Santos JE, Sartori R. Pivotal periods for pregnancy loss during the first trimester of gestation in lactating dairy cows. Theriogenology. 2016;86(1):239-53.
Wiltbank MC, Carvalho PD, Kaskin A, Hackbart KS, Meschiatti MA, Bastos MR, Guenther JN, Nascimento AB, Herlihy MM, Amundson MC, Souza AH. Effect of progesterone concentration during follicle development on subsequent ovulation, fertilization, and early embryo development in lactating dairy cows. Biol Reprod. 2011;85(Suppl 1):685.
Submitted date:
04/14/2025
Accepted date:
06/06/2025