Embryonic Mortality Between 16 and 34 Days Post-Breeding in Cows of Low Fertility

Summary A study was made to determine the percentage of repeat-breeder cows with normal embryos at 16 elapsed days of gestation and the embryonic death rate between 16 and 34 elapsed days. Apparently normal embryos were recovered from the uteri of 29 (58%) of 50 repeat-breeder cows slaughtered 16 days after the first day of heat; 50 repeat-breeder cows at 34 days had 14 normal embryos (28%). The estimate of embryonic death from 16 to 34 days was 51.7%.