Embryo Quality Characteristics from Superovulated Cows Receiving a Blend of Bioactive Peptides and Oligosaccharides to Support Immune Function (Grade OneTM)

We determined whether supplementation of a blend of bioactive peptides and oligosaccharides to support immune function (Nutrition Horizons Grade OneTM; Brookville, OH; US Patent no. 6,962,718) would alter quality, stage, and fertilization rate of embryos recovered after superovulation. Cows were superovulated using follicle stimulating hormone as NIH-FSH-P1 and were stratified by breed before random assignment to treatment: 1) donors received six Grade OneTM boluses (13 g/capsule) containing a blend of bioactive peptides and oligosaccharides (NHG1; n = 35); or 2) donors received 6 placebo capsules (13 g/capsule; Control; n = 37). Superovulation of donors was initiated by insertion of a controlled internal drug release device (CIDR) on d 0, eight injections of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) administered at 12 h intervals initiated on d 4, plus two injections of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) 12 h apart on d 7. At 0 and 12 h after detected estrus cows received an artificial insemination (AI). Boluses were inserted into the esophagus utilizing a balling gun. Cows received two boluses at CIDR insertion (d 0), at the first (d 4), and third (d 5) injection of FSH. Embryos were collected 7 d after first detected estrus and were recovered by nonsurgical embryo collection procedure. The embryos were evaluated and classified by stage and quality. Total ova (14.1 ± 1.8) and transferable embryos (5.2 ± 1.1) per flush for NHG1 and Control did not differ. Mean number of grade 1 (2.5 ± 0.8) and 2 (2.7 ± 0.5) were similar between treatments and no differences existed between treatments for degenerate (1.9 ± 0.4) or unfertilized ova (7.0 ± 1.4). However, the percentage of grade 1 embryos collected compared to recovered transferable embryos was greater (P = 0.06) for NHG1 (39.4%) than Control (23.4%). In addition, the percentage of grade 2 embryos collected compared to recovered transferable embryos was greater (P < 0.05) for Control (76.6%) than NHG1 (59.9%). We conclude that the number of transferable embryos collected per flush did not differ between treatments; however, the quality of transferable embryos was improved after embryo donor cows received NHG1 prior to embryo collection.