Bovine embryo recovery by filtration of non-surgical flushings.

A simple filtration system has been developed for the rapid collection of bovine embryos from large fluid volumes such as non-surgical uterine flushings. The technique utilizes a nylon plankton net sieve of 56 mum pore size and was evaluated on the non-surgical flushings of 18 superovulated cows. Approximately 500 ml of flushings from each uterine horn was collected in sedimentation flasks and two aliquots of 20 ml removed from the bottom of the flask after standing for 20 min, and searched for embryos. The remainder of the flushings was passed through the sieve and the sieve examined for embryos. Seven days (Day 7) after insemination, 53.3% (40 75 ) of embryos were found on the sieve or 47.2% of all normal embryos. On Day 12,28% (7 25 ) of eggs were found on the sieve, all of which were unfertilized or degenerate. All embryos were located within 10 min of starting filtration.