EXAMINING REPRODUCTIVE MICROBIOME AND EMBRYONIC LOSS FROM EMBRYO TRANSFER IN HEAT STRESSED CATTLE

The overall goal of this research is to understand the role of the female reproductive microbiome during heat stress to aid in developing solutions and management strategies to reduce embryonic loss in dairy cattle. This research proposal has two specific aims geared towards gaining insight into these relationships by 1) evaluating the uterine microbiome at time of embryo transfer during heat stress conditions on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in dairy heifers, and 2) elucidating the role of the uterine microbiome during heat stress conditions on early pregnancy markers (e.g., IFNT) and conceptus development.