Embryonic response to high beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels in postpartum dairy cows [methylation]

This project is meant to document the effect of the negative energetic balance on the embryo quality and as it happens, to identify ways to improve the fertility of dairy bovines. Measurement of the β-Hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) has been taken between 45 and 60 days post-partum on twelve Holstein cows. Cows have been ranked according to the sanguine measurement as high or low in BHB in order to get 6 cows per group. After having synchronized the heat with hormones and an ovarian stimulation, cows have been inseminated and the embryos were selected as so to be transferred in at least two heifers. With this transfer it is possible to isolate the impact of the energetic level of the mother before and during the gestation on the performances of the future progeny. This is a 2 conditions experiment with morula (4 per pool) and blastocysts (1 per pool) collected in cows with low or high BHB. Four biological replicates for each treatment and each were hybridized in a dye swap design.