THE EFFECTS OF SUBNUTRITION BEFORE OR AFTER EMBRYO-TRANSFER ON PREGNANCY RATE AND EMBRYO SURVIVAL IN DOES

Twelve mature Angora does were superovulated with pFSH and used as donors of embryos to 3 groups of recipients of the same breed. Group A recipients received rations providing 0.25 maintenance for 5 weeks before embryo transfer, and full maintenance rations for 60 days thereafter. Group B received full maintenance rations before embryo transfer and 0.25 maintenance thereafter, while Group C received full maintenance ration both before and after embryo transfer. All the recipient does were slaughtered at 60 days after embryo transfer, and the number of fetuses was counted. There were fewer live fetuses in Group B than in Group C (P<0.005). There was a tendency for does in Group A to have fewer fetuses than does in Group C and for does in Group B to have fewer fetuses than those in Group A (P<0.1). The data suggested that recipient undernutrition may adversely affect pregnancy rates and the survival of transferred embryos in the doe.