How MOET Technology Transforms Modern Animal Breeding
Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer (MOET), the embryo flush, is a common method of breeding cattle. It involves a 5-week superovulation process, which results in the release of several eggs from the donor cow, as opposed to one during natural heat. The cow is implanted and embryos are removed from the uterus the following week. This involves inserting a catheter into the cervix, where the cuff is inflated and fluid comes in and out to collect embryos in each horn.
Drugs used in MOET
Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer involves the use of Follicle Stimulating Hormone to promote the release of more than one egg from the ovaries. In addition to Follicle Stimulating Hormones, progesterone (e.g., CIDRs), PMSG (e.g., pregnecol), Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (e.g., Receptal), and Prostaglandin (e.g., Estroplan or Estrumate injection) are used to synchronize animals for rotating them at the right time.
What are the Benefits of Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer?
The benefits of MOET are as follows:
Increased animal fertility.
No surgery is required.
The whole process can be easily done on the farm.
The embryos can be frozen and stored in a laboratory for future use.
The embryos can be stored in banks for future use.
Collection Goods & Supplies
Several types of Foley catheters are available; the choice is usually based on the individual's experience and preferences.
Different sizes of balls and balloons are available; the choice is determined by the type and size of the female.
Two types of catheters can be used: two or three methods. Most workers use a two-dimensional catheter with a Y-junction.
Pre-Warmed Collection Media: Ready-made media for cleaning the embryo are available. Some are complete and ready to use; others may require the addition of a baby calf serum (at least 3 L). Alternatively, Ringer's lactate may be used. Fetal Filter: A few 0.75 µm filters are available.
Main Goal of Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer
The ultimate goal of raising animals is to improve the productivity of each animal in a very short time at a minimal cost. Genetic development rates are low in developing countries such as India due to some factors such as the unavailability of high-quality genetic material in the required numbers, lack of breeding infrastructure (AI), small herds of farmers, high-cost data recording, and data processing. Veterinary genetic engineering principles form the basis for a variety of selection processes such as interest testing and nucleus breeding programs. These can work in each herd within a group of cooperative farmers. The MOET-ONBS breeding program is a traditional breeding method for livestock development.
FAQs on MOET Technology Explained: Procedures & Applications
1. What does MOET stand for and what is its primary purpose in animal breeding?
MOET stands for Multiple Ovulation Embryo Transfer. Its primary purpose is to accelerate herd improvement by increasing the number of offspring from genetically superior female animals, such as high-yielding dairy cows or prize-winning bulls' mothers. Instead of one calf per year, this technology allows a single elite female to produce multiple embryos that can be carried by other animals.
2. What are the key steps involved in the MOET procedure?
The MOET procedure follows a series of controlled steps to maximise offspring from an elite female (donor):
Superovulation: The donor cow is administered hormones with FSH-like activity to stimulate the maturation of multiple follicles, leading to the release of 6-8 eggs instead of the usual one.
Insemination: The donor is artificially inseminated using semen from a genetically superior bull.
Embryo Recovery: After 6-8 days, the fertilised embryos are non-surgically flushed from the donor's uterus.
Embryo Transfer: The recovered healthy embryos are evaluated and then transferred into surrogate mothers, whose reproductive cycles have been synchronised with the donor's.
3. What are the main hormones used in MOET and what are their functions?
The key hormone used in MOET is the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Its function is to induce superovulation, causing the donor animal's ovaries to produce and release multiple eggs. Other hormones like Prostaglandin (PGF2α) and Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) are also used to synchronise the oestrous cycles of both the donor and the surrogate mothers, ensuring the surrogate is at the correct stage to receive an embryo.
4. What are the major advantages of using MOET technology in cattle farming?
MOET offers several significant advantages for improving cattle herds:
Increased Progeny: It allows a single elite cow to produce many more offspring in her lifetime.
Rapid Genetic Improvement: Herd quality can be improved much faster than with traditional breeding methods.
Embryo Storage: Embryos can be frozen (cryopreserved) and stored for future use or transported to other locations.
Non-Surgical: The embryo recovery process is non-surgical, making it safer for the valuable donor animal.
5. How does MOET technology differ from artificial insemination (AI)?
While both are assisted reproductive technologies, they differ significantly. Artificial Insemination (AI) focuses on the male side, allowing a superior bull to sire thousands of offspring. However, the female still produces only one offspring per pregnancy. MOET focuses on the female side, enabling a genetically superior female to produce multiple embryos in one cycle, which are then carried by surrogate mothers. In essence, AI multiplies the impact of a superior male, while MOET multiplies the impact of a superior female.
6. Why is a surrogate mother necessary for the MOET program to be effective?
A surrogate mother is crucial to the efficiency of MOET. The elite donor cow's primary value is her genetics for producing high-quality eggs. By transferring the resulting embryos to surrogate mothers, the donor is freed from the long gestation period. This allows the elite donor to be prepared for another cycle of superovulation and embryo production much sooner. This system effectively turns the donor into an 'egg factory' and the surrogates into incubators, maximising the number of genetically valuable offspring born in a year.
7. Are there any disadvantages or limitations associated with MOET?
Yes, MOET has some limitations. The procedure is technically demanding and requires trained personnel, making it more expensive than traditional breeding. The success rate can be variable and is influenced by the health and age of the donor. Furthermore, there is a potential risk of reducing genetic diversity in a population if the technology is used to extensively propagate a very small number of elite animals, which could make the herd more susceptible to specific diseases.
8. Can MOET be applied to animals other than cattle, such as sheep or goats?
Yes, MOET has been successfully adapted and used for various other species besides cattle, including sheep, goats, pigs, and horses. The fundamental principles of superovulation, insemination, and embryo transfer remain the same, but the specific hormonal protocols and timings are adjusted to suit the unique reproductive cycles of each species. This allows for accelerated genetic progress in these livestock animals as well.
