Identify gender to produce high yielding dairy cows

Two female calves from embryos select sex before transplanting

Experts from the Institute of Biotechnology (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) have just completed the technology of sex determination for embryos to produce high-yielding dairy cows in Vietnam.

This is a key topic at the institute level, led by Dr. Bui Xuan Nguyen, Head of the Department of Biology, reproduction and development. The goal is to quickly create more commercially effective herds of commercial cows, cheaper prices and replacement of imported cattle.

According to Dr. Nguyen, to determine the sex of high-yield dairy embryos, it is necessary to first separate 5-10 cells from embryos 5-6 days old. Thereafter, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique is used to multiply the sex-specific gene segments, thereby knowing the male or female embryos.

The survival rate of embryos after microscopic surgery of cell division is nearly 100%.

Finally, female embryos are used to inoculate Laisind cows, which are relatively common in Vietnam.

The black child in Cu Chi (2005) is a cow created by fertilizing US high-yielding dairy cows eggs with tropical adaptive dairy cows.

Before embryo transplantation, experts must stimulate and create a synchronous oestrous state in the mother cow - that is, how to make the uterine environment of the cow be suitable for the age of the embryo.

So far, the group has tested a selective embryo model of this type for nearly 200 cows in Vinh Phuc, Cu Chi and Dong Nai. For optimal models, the calving rate of cows reaches 50-55%.

Dr. Nguyen said that to implement sex determination technology, the group must first complete in vitro fertilization technology to produce high-yielding dairy cows.

They use dairy cows to adapt to the tropical climate to fertilize US high-yielding dairy cows eggs. These embryos will develop into tropical adapted cows, giving 7,000-10,000 liters of milk / cycle.

Sex selection and in vitro fertilization techniques have also been used to produce high-temperature, tropical adaptive beef cattle embryos.

According to Dr. Nguyen, the group's desire is to be supported to widely apply these techniques on a large scale, contributing to poverty reduction for farmers.