Brazil has presented tremendous progress in non-surgical embryo transfer (NSET) in sheep and goats. New instruments and techniques for non-surgical embryo recovery (NSER) and NSET in small ruminants were implemented. Recent improvements include refinement of the protocols for cervical relaxation combining oestradiol–oxytocin–cloprostenol treatment at specific times before NSER in sheep; recipient goats do not require any hormonal drugs to induce cervical dilation and direct embryo transfer by the cervical route yields excellent results. Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography (B-mode but especially colour Doppler) have proven to be accurate methods to localise and enumerate corpora lutea and luteinised unovulated follicles in recipient and donor does and ewes. An array of new criteria for selecting superior animals for NSER and NSET (e.g. cervical mapping) have been developed by Brazilian researchers. Extensive studies on both technologies were initially conducted in commercial breeds of goats and sheep but have been gradually extended to some native breeds of sheep (germplasm conservation) and dairy goat operations. It is speculated that, in future, NSER and NSET may become methods of choice for caprine and ovine embryo recovery and transfer in Brazil, and then globally. Due primarily to the efficiency of NSET in goats, a novel interspecies (e.g. bovine) IVP method may soon be developed on a large scale. The Brazilian experience is an invaluable source of information and know-how promoting the replacement of conventional surgical assisted reproductive technologies with non-surgical procedures and hence supporting the rapid development of the embryo transfer industry in small ruminants.

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of hormonal treatment duration through the use of intravaginal sponges impregnated with 60 mg MAP for 6 (G6; n = 10), 9 (G9; n = 10) or 12 (G12; n = 10) days. All nulliparous (n = 15) and lactating (n = 15) Saanen goats received 37.5 µg d-cloprostenol and 200 IU eCG 24 hours before sponge removal during the nonbreeding season. After sponge removal, estrus was monitored twice a day (06h00 and 18h00) by the use of fertile bucks. Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography was performed after device removal until ovulation detection. All goats were bred by artificial insemination (AI) or natural breeding (NB). All females received 250 IU hCG 5 d after AI or NB. No difference was observed among groups G6, G9 and G12 for: estrous response (90.0, 100.0 and 100.0%, respectively); interval from sponge removal to estrus (26.7±5.6, 25.2±2.8 and 25.2±3.3 hours), duration of estrus (28.5±7.1; 21.6±3.0 and 25.2±6.1 hours); ovulation rate (80.0, 100.0 and 70.0%); number of ovulations (1.9±0.2, 1.5±0.2 and 1.4±0.2); and pregnancy rate (60.0, 80.0 and 50.0%). Interval from sponge removal to ovulation was shorter in animals from G6 (44.6±2.2 hours) than for animals from G9 (52.8±2.7 hours) and G12 (60.0±4.5 hours). All treatments were effective in the induction of synchronized estrus in Saanen goats during the nonbreeding season, but ovulation occurred earlier when goats received sponges for 6 days.201