Progress 07/15/24 to 05/22/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences include animal scientists, dairy producers and reproductive tehcnology industries that serve these commodity groups (e.g. bull studs, embryo transfer companies). Other target audiences include educators, including county, regional and state agricultural extension agents as well as human IVF clinics. Efforts to deliver knowledge include formal classroom instruction in undergraduate and graduate classes, experiential instruction to undergraduates and graduate students and presentations at regional and national conferences. Changes/Problems:The project timeline has been delayed due to my acceptance of a tenure-track faculty position at West Texas A&M University and leaving Virginia Tech in January 2025. Because of this, I have been unable to complete the OPU cow work and RNA sequencing required for Aim 1. However, I have spent my time at WTAMU securing research equipment, setting up a laboratory and identifying a herd of research animals so that once reserach funds are released, I can complete both aims of the project. To combat the time lost from transferring universities, I will be completing the OPU cow work for Aim 1 and Aim 2 simultaneously. All other aspects of the experimental design will remain the same. High and low AFC animals will be identified and half of each will receive melatonin implants. OPU will be performed and COCs collected and evaluated according to Aim 1. Only the cows not supplemented with melatonin will be utilized to complete the IVF work in Aim 2. By collecting from both groups at the same time, the time to project completion will be reduced and all objectives will be achieved within the original timeframe. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have become proficient in OPU (> 70% oocyte retrieval rate) after 3 months of practice at the beginning of the project. I also developed the skills necessary for follicular fluid collection and processing and increased my technical skills by analyzing samples with a new melatonin ELISA kit. In addition, I was able to attend the 2024 Society for the Study of Reproduction meeting in Ireland where I networked with fellow reproductive physiologists and discussed opportunities to fine-tune and improve OPU and IVF procedures. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Data on high vs. low antral follicle count cows and dominant follicle size has been disseminated as an abstract to the American Dairy Science Assocation 2025 annual meeting. I will present this data in a talk at the meeting in June. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I will utilize a herd of research animals at West Texas A&M University to complete objective 1 and 2 of the grant as soon as research funds are released. I have already identified the group of animals, acquired the research supplies and identified undergraduate and graduate students to assist in data collection. OPU will be completed during the Fall of 2025 and samples will be analyzed and statistical analysis will be completed during the Spring of 2026. In addition, during the Fall of 2025 I will host a reproductive technology workshop for dairy producers that covers technical skills of AI, ET, OPU, synchronization, superovulation and IVF as well as financial implications of implementation. Deliverables will also be disseminated at this meeting that cover the aforementioned information. In the Spring of 2026 I will host a follow up workshop for dairy producers that includes hands-on time for ultrasonography and AI.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Progress on the two aims of this project has been delayed due to Dr. Alward's acceptance of a faculty position at WTAMU, beginning January 2025, which left only 6 months to work on the project at Virginia Tech prior to moving. This did not allow enough time to complete either aim. However, Dr. Alward did identify another avenue of research that complements the original aims and provides additional insight into the impact of melatonin on oocyte development. She collected samples of dominant follicle fluid and measured dominant follicles in high and low antral follicle count animals to be evaluated for melatonin concentration. This will lend further insight into the role of melatonin on oocyte development and quality. Work on the two original aims will be implemented once grant funds are released to WTAMU. Dr. Alward has been preparing by setting up her laboratory with the necessary equipment and identifying a herd of animals that can be used for the project, so that there will be no delay in research once the funds are transferred. Despite not being able to make progress on the original two aims, Dr. Alward has been able to disseminate knowledge of this project to the scientific community by submitting an abstract to the ADSA 2025 Annual meeting on her follicular fluid samples. This abstract has been accepted and she will present at the meeting in June.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Alward, K. J., Oliver, M. A., and A. D. Ealy. Antral Follicle Count and Dominant Follicle Size in Dairy Cattle. Accepted for presentation at the American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting; 2025; Louisville, KY.
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