Report of the Committee to consider the ethical implications of emerging technologies in the breeding of farm animals / Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Date:
1995
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Report of the Committee to consider the ethical implications of emerging technologies in the breeding of farm animals / Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    43/94 page 31
    and transfer of embryos constitute major surgical interventions with attendant problems. We note the concern of the Sheep Veterinary Society, and the Code of Practice which they have drawn up, to which we have already referred, and which relates to both laparoscopic AI and embryo transfer. The use of superovulatory drugs may or may not raise welfare questions, but the poor fertility of superovulated ewes means that they are likely to be impregnated by AI rather than natural service, thereby undergoing two invasive operations. Comments and recommendations 4.60 The comments we made in relation to AI in sheep are appropriate in relation to embryo transfer too, and our recommendations are therefore parallel with those already made. Specifically we recommend that embryo transfer in sheep and goats should only be performed by veterinary surgeons competent in the procedure and that, in consultation with FAWC and the RCVS in particular, the following provisions be introduced, by code of practice or, where appropriate, by regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984, to regulate embryo transfer in sheep and goats, unless carried out under the ASPA: (a) that embryo transfer be performed with appropriate and adequate analgesia; (b) that in all cases a veterinary surgeon should review the health, maturity and general suitability of the animal to receive an embryo, to ensure as far as possible a normal pregnancy and delivery; (c) that embryo transfer be used only in disease control programmes and in recognised breed improvement schemes’®. Embryo transfer in pigs Technique 4.61 Embryo transfer in pigs is rare, because pigs are so easily bred using natural service or AI. The main reason for using it is to introduce disease free strains or new bloodlines in specific herds. The collection and transfer procedure is similar to that for sheep. However, general, rather than local anaesthesia, prior to surgery (laparotomy) is required to recover the embryos. Pigs can be successfully superovulated if necessary to produce a larger number of embryos than normal, but since pig embryos are difficult to freeze successfully, commercial embryo transfer is not widely used. Were this difficulty overcome, and were attempts to develop per vaginam methods of collection and implantation successful, embryo transfer in pigs may become far more common. Current regulations 4.62 There are at present no specific regulations controlling embryo transfer in pigs, though whilst collection and transfer are surgical procedures, they may only be performed by a veterinarian. Embryo transfer regulations will be included, however, in the review of the AI in pigs regulations mentioned above in para. 4.37. Welfare concerns 4.63 The surgical operations required to collect and transfer embryos are significant interventions with associated risks and the welfare concerns in relation to embryo transfer in pigs are essentially the same as those discussed in relation to sheep and goats. 8 This refers to such schemes as (a) those operated by sheep breeding organisations which have been approved under EC Decision 90/254, laying down criteria for approval of breeding organisations and associations which export or maintain flock books for pure bred sheep and goats (similar schemes exist for cattle and pigs); or (b) sire reference schemes using MLC recording schemes.
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