Characterization of Early Embryonic Death and Prevention of Pregnancy Wastage

Abstract

Reproductive management programs will be discussed that attempt to optimize these critical windows in a manner that increases pregnancy rates. With our understanding of the dialogue between the developing embryo and the maternal reproductive tract, pharmaceutical and nutritional strategies also have increased pregnancy rates. For example, injection of bovine somatotropin at the time of insemination increases pregnancy rates in lactating dairy cows. The lactational state in modern day dairy cows contributes to a sub-fertile condition that the practitioner needs to manage based upon a thorough understanding of the underlying physiological causes. These limitations are partially amenable to improvement as part of a production medicine program.