Challenges in Application of New Reproductive Biotechnologies in Domestic Animals

Some of the reproductive technologies have greatly improved the productivity of livestock in the developed countries. Many factors, which are often not optimal in every herd, affect the cost-benefit of such technologies, including the management, knowledge, expertise and attitude of the involved personnel, farmer’s economic and social conditions, to name a few. Artificial insemination (AI) is the most important biotechnology that its application, along with other technologies such as germ cell cryopreservation especially sperm freezing, can result in considerable improvement in genetics of animal production and distribution of the elite genotypes. Estrous synchronization and sex-sorted sperm technologies increase the efficiency of AI. Embryo transfer technology can improve the female reproduction; however, its application is much more costly, and it is not as effective as AI. In most developing countries, AI is often used for upgrading the native animals with imported semen, and less often for breeding of the native dams with the sperm of native males. Due to lack of effective and reliable methods of animal identification, recording systems, and defined animal breeding schemes, the more advanced technologies cannot be efficiently applied in these animals. The use of molecular markers is generally limited to the genetic identification studies which are often carried out with international collaboration. This paper describes the challenges of the application of assisted reproductive technologies and biotechnologies, with emphasis on the developing countries. When available, the information on Iran will also be presented.