RESULTS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES IN THE REPRODUCTION OF SMALL RUMINANTS

Abstract

In recent decades, biotechnological methods for targeted regulation of reproductive
function have become more important in the practice of farm animals reproduction. These
methods have been widely disseminated all over the world, especially in cattle breeding. As
for small ruminants, biotechnological techniques for regulating reproductive function are
not widely used. At the same time, FAO statistics show that the number of sheep and goat
breeds and their geographical spread are constantly increasing now. This is primarily due to
an important characteristic of small ruminants. It can be explained by the fact that they can
breed and produce a diverse and high quality product in areas with unfavourable or
sometimes even impossible conditions for other farm animals. The wide dissemination and
expansion of the breeding range of small ruminants is also supported by the development
and improvement of the so-called Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). The article
deals with ART that are quite widespread (artificial insemination, sperm cryopreservation
and creation of storages, induction and synchronization of estrus), and ART which are used
in rare cases (technology of superovulation induction and embryo transfer, invitro embryo
production and embryo cryopreservation). The article gives reasons for the rare use of
multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programmes in sheep and goat breeding in
practice.