Repeated recoveries of embryos from ewes by laparoscopy

Abstract Eight ewes were synchronised in oestrus and induced to superovulate on three occasions over a period of two months. Eggs a were recovered on Day 7 (Day 0 = oestrus) of each cycle by a laparoscopic technique which avoids the adhesion formation normally associated with the conventional surgical procedure. Egg recovery rates were 35% ( 22 62 ), 76% ( 13 17 ) and 66% ( 21 32 ) for the three consecutive recovery sessions. This technique allows ewes to be used repeatedly as embryo donors and should be valuable to research workers and those involved with commercial embryo transfer in sheep.