Long-Term Study of Physical, Haematological, and Biochemical Parameters in Cattle with Different Embryo Origins

TL;DR

This study found that cattle born through lab methods or traditional breeding grow and stay healthy similarly over time, with age being the main factor affecting health indicators.

Contribution

The study provides the first long-term haematological and biochemical reference values for cattle from different reproductive methods.

Findings

Most health indicators remained within normal ranges for both lab-produced and traditionally conceived cows.

Age was the main factor influencing changes in physical, haematological, and biochemical parameters.

IVP cattle showed slightly lower cholesterol and creatinine levels compared to AI cattle.

Abstract

This study looked at whether cows born through different assisted reproductive methods grow and stay healthy over time. Some cows were born using artificial insemination, while others were produced in the lab and implanted into mother cows. The researchers followed these animals from one and a half to five years of age, measuring their weight, temperature, heart, and breathing rates, and analysing their blood and chemical levels. While some small differences were found depending on how the animals were conceived, such as slightly lower cholesterol or white blood cells, most health indicators stayed within the normal range for all animals. The biggest changes were linked to age, not to the way the cows were born. For example, as the cows got older, their weight increased, their body temperature and breathing slowed down, and some blood and biochemical levels changed naturally. The study found that both lab-produced and traditionally conceived cows developed similarly over the years, showing that both methods are safe and lead to healthy animals. These results are important for farmers and scientists, as they confirm that newer reproductive technologies can be used confidently to breed healthy livestock for food production and farming.

Assisted reproductive technologies are vital in cattle breeding to improve genetic selection and productivity. While early-life differences between artificially inseminated (AI) and in vitro-produced (IVP) cattle have been studied, long-term physiological, haematological, and biochemical effects remain unclear. This observational study assessed AI and IVP cattle from 1.5 to 5 years of age to determine if early differences persist. IVP cattle were produced after the transfer of the embryo produced by supplementing (RF-IVP group) or not supplementing (C-IVP) the embryo culture with oviductal and uterine fluids. Physical evaluations showed body mass index increased until 3.5 years, while temperature and respiratory rate declined with age, with no significant differences between AI and IVP groups. Haematological analysis revealed age-related changes, including decreased red and white blood cell counts and increased mean corpuscular volume and haemoglobin. AI cattle had higher white blood cell counts than IVP groups. Sex significantly influenced many haematological variables. Biochemical analysis showed age-related increases in total protein, creatinine, and urea, and decreases in glucose and alkaline phosphatase. AI cattle had lower cholesterol and creatinine than IVP groups. Despite group differences, all values remained within normal ranges. Sex affected albumin, cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatine kinase. This study provides the first long-term haematological and biochemical reference values for cattle from different reproductive methods, showing that age is the main influencing factor and supporting IVP cattle as a viable alternative to AI in breeding programs.

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