Effect of Sire and System of Mating on Estimated Embryonic Loss

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Abstract
A total of 837 services were analyzed for the effects of sire and system of mating on estimated embryonic mortality by the 150th day of gestation in Holstein-Friesian cows. The sire had a highly significant effect on the rate of embryonic death. Outbred embryos had an estimated death rate of 19.8% by 150 days as compared to 22.3% for inbred embryos. Outbred dams had 19.2% embryonic death by 150 days, whereas in inbred dams it was 28.4%. Although the difference was not statistically significant in either case, the trend was for inbreeding of either embryos or dams, particularly the latter, to increase embryonic mortality.