Review on Potential of Reproductive Technology to Improved Ruminant Production in Ethiopia

Abstract

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-8-02

Publication date: April 30^th 2020

INTRODUCTION

Reproductive technology encompasses all current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction, including assisted reproductive technology, contraception and others (Mapletoft and Hasler, 2005). Research into physiology and embryology has provided a basis for the development of technologies that increase productivity of farm animals through enhanced control of reproductive function. Animal Biotechnology represents an expanding collection of rapidly developing disciplines in science and information technologies. The livestock provides many opportunities to utilize these disciplines and evolving competencies. Individually, these are powerful tools capable of providing significant improvements in productivity. Combinations of these technologies coupled with information systems and data analysis will provide even more significant changes in the next decade.

Various techniques have been developed and refined to obtain a large number of offspring from genetically superior animals or obtain offspring from infertile (or sub fertile) animals (Naqvi et al., 2001; Blackburn, 2004). Based on the progress in scientific knowledge of endocrinology, reproductive physiology, cell biology and embryology during the last fifty years new bio techniques have been developed for and introduced into animal breeding and husbandry (Wrathall et al., 2004). Among them are estrus synchronization/induction, artificial insemination, Multiple Ovulation Induction and Embryo Transfer (MOET), in vitro embryo production (IVP) and cloning by Nuclear Transfer (NT) all are components of the tool box for present and future applications (Betteridge, 2003). Techniques are now available to get genetically improved farm animals in large numbers. This involves collection of the fertilized egg from genetically superior female which ovulate spontaneously or are induced to super ovulate (Wolf et al., 2000). The current efficiency for producing transgenic animals particularly farm animals, is low and the cost is high. Success in the production of transgenic farm animals requires an adequate animal facility and dedicated teams of embryologists, veterinarians, animal scientists and molecular biologists. Ethiopia has over 57.83 million indigenous cattle, and about 13.5million are breeder cows and 28.89 million sheep out of which about 14 Million are kept for breeder and 29.7 million goats out of this 12.6 million are kept for breeder (CSA, 2015/16). Average milk production from local cows is also low, estimated at 1.37 liters/cow per day (CSA, 2014). This result in a total annual milk production of 3.81 billion liters and about 50% of this goes to calves Per capita milk consumption is low and stands at 19 kg/year FAO (2011). Therefore, Ethiopia needs to work hard on improving the work of productive and reproductive performance improvements of cattle through appropriate breeding and related activities (CSA, 2006). In spite, of the presence of large and diverse animal genetic resources, the productivity (meat and milk) of livestock remains low in many developing countries including Ethiopia for various reasons, such as inadequate nutrition, poor genetic potential, inadequate animal health services and other management related problems (Lobago, 2007). Cattle breeding are mostly uncontrolled in Ethiopia making genetic improvement difficult and an appropriate bull selection criteria have not yet been established applied and controlled which makes genetic improvement difficult (Webb,2003; Abraham ,2014). Given the considerable potential for smallholder income and employment generation from high-value dairy products, development of the dairy sector can contribute significantly to food security and nutrition of the country (Desalegn et al., 2009). On the other hand, artificial insemination (AI), the most commonly used and valuable biotechnology has been in operation in Ethiopia for over 30 years. Nevertheless, the efficiency and impact of the AI operation has not been well-documented (Engida, 2012). This paper is review status of reproductive technology to improved ruminant production in Ethiopia.