FREEZING OF GERM CELLS HAS BEEN A VALUABLE BREEDING TOOL FOR FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS FOR DECADES. FOR CATTLE THIS HAS BEEN LIMITED TO THE MALE GERM CELL, SPERM, BECAUSE THE FEMALE GERM CELL, THE EGG, DOES NOT SURVIVE FREEZING AS WELL. THE FREEZING PROCESS DAMAGES SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF CATTLE EGGS WHICH PREVENTS NORMAL FERTILIZATION. WE BELIEVE THIS DAMAGE CAN BE OVERCOME BY TREATING THE EGG BEFORE FREEZING OR REPAIRING THE DAMAGE AFTER FREEZING. IN THIS PROJECT WE WILL USE CHEMICALS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF PREVENTING DAMAGE DURING FREEZING AND CHEMICALS WITH THE POTENTIAL OF REPAIRING ANY DAMAGE AFTER THE FROZEN EGGS ARE WARMED. WE EXPECT ONE OR BOTH APPROACHES TO REDUCE THE DAMAGE TO THE EGGS AND ALLOW NORMAL FERTILIZATION TO OCCUR. SUCCESS OF THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE CATTLE PRODUCERS WITH AN ADDITIONAL TOOL FOR SELECTION AND BREEDING OF GENETICALLY SUPERIOR ANIMALS AND ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO APPLY OTHER TECHNIQUES SUCH AS CLONING AND GENETIC MODIFICATION TO CATTLE BREEDING.

Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge LA

Investigators