Survival of bovine embryos stored at 4°C

Abstract These experiments were designed to test the efficacy of storing bovine embryos at 4°C. Of particular interest were the age of embryo at which maximum post-storage survival could be achieved and longevity at 4°C. A greater proportion of day 8 blastocysts developed in vitro at 37°C following refrigeration for 48 hr than did embryos collected 2, 4 or 6 days after estrus (P In vitro survival of nonstored embryos and embryos stored 1 day did not differ. Survival decreased after storage for 2 days (P In vitro survival was approximately 50% for blastocysts stored for 3 and 5 days, but few pregnancies resulted from transfer of embryos stored for these periods. In another experiment survival after transfer of blastocysts stored at 4°C for up to 2 days was similar to that of nonstored blastocysts.