The Effect of Flunixin Meglumine Injected Before Embryo Transfer on Pregnancy Rates in Heifers

In this study, the effect of flunixin meglumine (non-steroid anti-inflamatuar) injection before embryo transfer on d 7 (oestrus 0) on pregnancy rate was examined. For this aim, 39 Brown Swiss heifers were used. Following the oestrus detection, cryopreserved cattle embryos were transferred on d 7. Treatment animals were chosen randomly and injected intramuscularly 500 mg flunixin meglumine (FM group, n = 20) 5 min before embryo transfer application while the others remained as controls (Control, n = 19) and intramuscularly injected 2 ml of saline solution. All animals were transferred first quality cryopreserved blastosist embryos. Transfers were performed to uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum in 5 min after thawing with the help of epidural anesthesia. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed on d 30 by ultrasound with 7.5 MHz rectal probe. Pregnancy rates were 50.0% in FM group and 52.6% in Control group. The difference between groups was not significant. It is concluded that 500 mg flunixin meglumine injection 5 min before cryopreserved embryo transfer had no effect on pregnancy rates in heifers.