Assisted reproductive technologies in reproduction of small cattle (Review)

Abstract

The article defines the term “assisted reproductive technologies (ART)” and analyzes the wide spread of some ART and the lack of demand for others. Сryopreservation of embryos has become an essential part of the commercial industry in many countries. This assisted technology as well as sperm freezing is designed to preserve and distribute the valuable gene pool and to create storages for gametes. It is generally accepted that the transboundary movement of embryos as genetic material is less expensive than the
movement of live animals and safer from a veterinary point of view. VNIIOK scientists in cooperation with “Stavropol Farmer” LLC and foreign specialists are conducting these experiments on meat breeds of sheep. Encouraging results have been achieved. After direct transfer of frozen embryo, the pregnancy rate is between 50 and 72%. Vitrification of embryos is likely to become a promising method for preserving and dissemination of a valuable gene pool. It is not necessary to assert the widespread use of assisted reproductive technologies in the practice of domestic sheep breeding. They are used in rare cases. It can be assumed that the prospects for the use of ART will depend on their
improvement towards greater efficiency in practical terms and the development of new technologies.The article describes different ART and the reasons for rare use of multiple ovulation and embryo transplantation programs (MOET) in sheep and goat breeding in Russia. This paper gives recommendations on the wider use of ART to intensify reproduction, deepen selective stock breeding, preserve the gene pool and accelerate genetic progress.