China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2022, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (9): 3492-3499.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2022.09.023

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Evaluation of Embryo and Sperm Cryopreservation in Hu Sheep

LIU Gang1, ZHU Fangxian1, ZHANG Xiaowei2, GU Feng3, LIU Lijun2, SU Rui3, MENG Fei1, XU Haitao1, SUN Feizhou1   

  1. 1. National Animal Husbandry Service, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. Zhejiang Animal Husbandry Technology Extension and Breeding Livestock and Poultry Monitoring Station, Hangzhou 310021, China;
    3. Suzhou Taihu Dongshan Lake Sheep Industry Development Co., Ltd., Suzhou 215107, China
  • Received:2022-03-02 Online:2022-09-05 Published:2022-08-24

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to test the quality of long-term frozen embryos and forzen semen of Hu sheep in national livestock gene banks, and to evaluate the effect of cryopreservation.【Method】 The frozen embryos (preserved for 20 years) and frozen semen (preserved for 20 and 30 years) produced in 1988 and 1998 and stored in the national livestock gene bank were resuscitated.After corresponding identification, embryo transfer and artificial insemination were carried out respectively.At the same time, 0-year frozen semen and fresh semen were used as controls to determine the conception rate and the lambskin performance, growth performance and breeding performance of offspring, and test the preservation effect.【Result】 A total of 36 embryos were thawed in this experiment, including 22 class-A embryos, 7 class-B embryos, 5 class-C embryos and 2 class-D embryos.The recovery rate of frozen embryos reached 94.44% (34/36), the rate of class A embryos reached 61.11% (22/36).34 embryos were transplanted and 17 embryos were lambed.The lambing rate of frozen embryos was 50.00%.The average sperm motility of 30-year frozen semen was 35%, the conception rate was 58.57%, and the average number of lambs was 1.90.The average sperm motility of 20-year frozen semen was 31%, the conception rate was 53.66%, and the average number of lambs was 1.95.The body shape and appearance of embryo resuscitation transplanted sheep, 30-year and 20-year frozen semen progenies were consistent with the characteristics of pure Hu sheep, and there were no abnormal individuals.The first grade lambskin percentage of the lambs were 31.25%, 42.03% and 23.81%, respectively, which maintained the lambskin characteristics of the Hu sheep in that year.The growth, development and reproductive performance were basically consistent with those of the existing Hu sheep population.【Conclusion】 The method of long-term preservation of frozen embryos and semen of Hu sheep by cryopreservation was feasible, which was of great significance to the conservation of local breeds.

Key words: frozen embryo; frozen semen; resuscitation; reproduction; Hu sheep

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