Embryo transfer in equine species: review

Abstract

The embryo transfer in the equine species is a highly important biotechnique for the horse industry. The versatility of this species is the main factor for the worldwide growth of the horse breeding. Thus, this biotechnology makes possible a largest development of this activity through the earnings in the reproductive efficiency and in the increment of the genetic improvement, which leads to the improvement of the breeding. In the last decades, numerous studies made possible the progress of this tool. Researches on superovulation protocols and embryo cryopreservation has reached more encouraging results, leading to a largest development of the technique, diffusion of the same and generating future perspectives at lower implementation costs. Several factors should be quite analyzed before the beginning of an embryo transfer program in equine species, because the organization and coordination of the components can affect the success of the technique. Therefore, it is important to accomplish a revision about the selection and mares handling, the oestrus syncronization protocols, the ovulation induction, and other matters related to the application of this biotechnology. Keywords: Embryo transfer, oestrus synchronization, superovulation, horse.