In vitro maturation of indigenous African cattle oocytes is a major challenge even though different maturation protocols work successfully in other breeds. The objective of this study was to determine the maturation rate of indigenous South African cattle oocytes following in vitro maturation in media supplemented with different concentrations of hormones and selected using brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) staining. Indigenous cattle ovaries were collected from the slaughterhouse and then oocytes were retrieved by aspiration method. A total of 966 oocytes were exposed to 26 µM BCB stain and 700 oocytes were not exposed to the BCB stain. Thereafter, oocytes exposed to the BCB stain were grouped according to the colour of their cytoplasm BCB+ (oocytes with blue cytoplasm, low G6PDH) and BCB– (unstained oocytes, increased G6PDH). The BCB exposed (BCB+ and BCB–) and the oocytes not exposed to BCB were then randomly allocated into tissue culture medium (TCM199) + 10% (vol/vol) fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplemented with 3 different concentrations of hormones as treatments (T). The T1 group was matured in the presence of 0.5 µg mL–1 of FSH, 5 mg mL–1 of LH, and 2 µg mL–1 of E2; the T2 group was matured in the presence of 1 µg mL–1 of FSH, 6 mg mL–1 of LH, and 2.5 µg mL–1 of E2; and the T3 group was matured in the presence of 1.5 µg mL–1 of FSH, 7 mg mL–1 of LH, and 4.5 µg mL–1 of E2. For IVM, 20 to 25 COC were placed in 50-µL droplets of IVM medium containing the 3 different levels of hormones. Maturation rate of oocytes was determined by the extrusion of the first polar body after 24 h of incubation in maturation medium. Data was analysed by ANOVA using SAS with 4 replicates per treatment. Treatment 2 yielded higher maturation rate for both BCB+ (65.6%) and not exposed to BCB (60.3%) oocytes compared to T1 (22, 3.03, and 16% for BCB+, BCB–, and not exposed to BCB, respectively) and T3 (48, 2.2, and 48% for BCB+, BCB–, and not exposed to BCB respectively). However, BCB– oocytes had lower polar body extrusion for T1, T2, and T3 (3.03, 8.1, and 2.2%, respectively) compared to BCB+ oocytes (22, 65.6, and 48% for T1, T2, and T3, respectively). In conclusion, immature oocytes that were cultured into TCM199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 1 µg mL–1 of FSH, 6 mg mL–1 of LH, and 2.5 µg mL–1 of E2 showed maturation rate for BCB+ oocytes and those not exposed to BCB. Oocytes selection using BCB staining was a useful test to classify good quality cattle oocytes. Therefore, it is suggested that treatment 2 is a suitable in vitro-maturation medium to mature indigenous South African cattle oocytes.

The present study aimed to evaluate an oestrous synchronization protocol and oestrus response before AI in cows from an organised communal production system. A total of 74 cows Bos indicus (Brahman) and Bos taurus/indicus hybrid (Nguni) type from different communal farmers were screened based on: age (3 to 8 years), body condition score of ≥3 (1–5 scale), not pregnant (excluding heifers), 90 days postpartum, number of parities, good mothering ability, and negative for contagious abortion. Selected cows were subjected to a 9-day OvSynch+CIDR protocol. In brief, the protocol included the insertion of controlled intravaginal drug release (CIDR®, Pfizer Laboratories) devices in the reproductive tract (vagina) containing 1.9g of progesterone in each cow on Day 0 with first oestradiol benzoate (Oestradiol benzoate®, VTech) 2-mL intramuscular (IM) injection. Pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG; Chronogest®, Intervet International B.V.) 2.5-mL (IM) injection on Day 5. Removal of CIDR and (IM) injection of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α; Estrumate®, Intervet South Africa (Pty.) Ltd.) 2mL on Day 8. Following CIDR removal, a heat mount detector (Kamar®) was applied on the individual cow’s tail head for oestrus observation (signs of heat) with second oestradiol benzoate 1-mL (IM) injection on Day 9. AI was performed 36h following withdrawal of the CIDR. Frozen/thawed semen from Bonsmara bulls (n=2) of known and proven fertility was used for AI. The GameteTek Cryo-Mobile laboratory was used during thawing of semen straws. and sperm motility and morphological traits were immediately evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis (Sperm Class Analyzer®) before each individual cow was inseminated. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed 90 days after timed AI by ultrasound and transrectal palpation. Data were analysed using the logistic regression procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.), with synchronisation response and conception being treated as binary response variables. All cows were synchronized successfully and an oestrus response rate of 100% was recorded. Pregnancy rates were similar (37.8% vs. 38.9%) for both Bos indicus and Bos taurus/indicus hybrid cattle. Bulls total sperm motility of ≥75% were recorded, following thawing of semen straws. Thus, there was no effect of bull on pregnancy. In conclusion, acceptable oestrus synchronization response was achieved in this communal setup. Superior genetic materials can be successfully introduced through assisted reproductive technologies in organised communal production systems.