EVALUATION OF REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS AND EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT IN BEEF HEIFERS SUPPLEMENTED RUMEN UNDEGRADABLE PROTEIN

The PD aims to improve the beef industry by improving heifer development programs and increase cow longevity. Another goal of this project is to better understand the physiological effects of supplementing rumen undegradable protein to heifers during the development period. The PD aims to determine the source of rumen undegradable protein influences ovarian development, oocyte competence, embryo development, and uterine histotroph in beef heifers.Objective 1: To measure oocyte competence and embryo development in heifers supplemented varying levels and sources of rumen undegradable protein in a dry-lot setting. The PD will measure this objective by investigating the number of cumulus oocyte complexes recovered, number of embryos developing normally, and number of embryos that develop to a blastocyst stage amongst treatments.Objective 2: To measure amino acid concentrations in the uterine histrotroph and embryo development in heifers supplemented varying levels and sources of rumen undegradable protein in a dry-lot setting. The PD will measure this objective by investigating amino acid concentrations in the uterine histotroph and by the number of embryos that develop to a hatched blastocyst stage amongst treatments.Objective 3: To measure oocyte competence and embryo development in heifers supplemented varying levels and sources of rumen undegradable protein on native rangelands. The PD will measure this objective by investigating the number of cumulus oocyte complexes recovered, number of embryos developing normally, and number of embryos that develop to a blastocyst stage amongst treatments.