Application of reproductive biotechnologies to improve bovine genetic efficiency
Keywords:
cattle, genetic efficiency, genetic improvement, reproductive biotechnology, animal reproduction.Abstract
Reproductive biotechnologies are fundamental tools for accelerating genetic progress and improving the productive efficiency of cattle production systems. This systematic review aimed to analyse the available scientific evidence on the application of reproductive biotechnologies and their contribution to improving genetic efficiency in cattle, identifying the main technologies used, benefits, limitations, and future prospects. Twenty sources comprising scientific articles, reviews, and technical documents related to reproduction, genetic improvement, and cattle production were analysed. The information was organised according to the technologies used, reproductive applications, contributions to genetic progress, technical limitations, and future perspectives. The results showed that artificial insemination, ovulation synchronisation, sexed semen, embryo transfer, in vitro embryo production, and genomic selection are among the main tools used. These technologies make it possible to increase the use of superior breeding animals, multiply females of high genetic merit, select the sex of offspring, reduce the generation interval, and increase the intensity and accuracy of selection. The integration of embryo technologies and genomic information represents one of the main strategies for accelerating genetic progress. However, the evidence also identified limitations related to fertility, variability in pregnancy rates, costs, technical requirements, and the risk of reducing genetic diversity. It is concluded that reproductive biotechnologies make an important contribution to cattle genetic improvement when integrated into well-planned selection programmes that simultaneously consider reproductive efficiency, genetic diversity, production conditions, and the long-term sustainability of cattle populations.
Downloads
References
Berry, D. P., & Murphy, T. B. (2025). Relative effectiveness in genetic gain from genomic selection of candidate dams versus genomic selection of their progeny. JDS Communications, 6(3), 345–349. https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2024-0705
Bó, G. A., Huguenine, E., de la Mata, J. J., Núñez-Olivera, R., Baruselli, P. S., & Menchaca, A. (2018). Programs for fixed-time artificial insemination in South American beef cattle. Animal Reproduction, 15(Suppl. 1), 952–962. https://doi.org/10.21451/1984-3143-AR2018-0025
Clasen, J. B., Lehmann, J. O., Thomasen, J. R., Østergaard, S., & Kargo, M. (2019). Combining extended lactation with sexed semen in a dairy cattle herd: Effect on genetic and total economic return. Livestock Science, 223, 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.03.001
Crites, B. R., Vishwanath, R., Arnett, A. M., Bridges, P. J., Burris, W. R., McLeod, K. R., & Anderson, L. H. (2018). Conception risk of beef cattle after fixed-time artificial insemination using either SexedUltra 4M sex-sorted semen or conventional semen. Theriogenology, 118, 126–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.05.003
Diskin, M. G. (2018). Review: Semen handling, time of insemination and insemination technique in cattle. Animal, 12(S1), s75–s84. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118000952
Doublet, A.-C., Croiseau, P., Fritz, S., Michenet, A., Hozé, C., Danchin-Burge, C., Laloë, D., & Restoux, G. (2019). The impact of genomic selection on genetic diversity and genetic gain in three French dairy cattle breeds. Genetics Selection Evolution, 51, Article 52. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-019-0495-1
Ferré, L. B., Kjelland, M. E., Strøbech, L. B., Hyttel, P., Mermillod, P., & Ross, P. J. (2020). Review: Recent advances in bovine in vitro embryo production: Reproductive biotechnology history and methods. Animal, 14(5), 991–1004. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731119002775
Fontes, P. L. P., & Oosthuizen, N. (2022). Applied use of Doppler ultrasonography in bovine reproduction. Frontiers in Animal Science, 3, Article 912854. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2022.912854
Krisher, R. L., & Herrick, J. R. (2024). Bovine embryo production in vitro: Evolution of culture media and commercial perspectives. Animal Reproduction, 21(3), Article e20240051. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-3143-AR2024-0051
Kumar, S., Magotra, A., Kumar, M., Dalal, D. S., & Kumari, S. (2024). Semen sexing and its impact on fertility and genetic gain in cattle. Zygote, 32(2), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0967199424000066
Lassen, J., & Difford, G. F. (2020). Review: Genetic and genomic selection as a methane mitigation strategy in dairy cattle. Animal, 14(S3), s473–s483. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731120001561
Lozada-Soto, E. A., Maltecca, C., Lu, D., Miller, S., Cole, J. B., & Tiezzi, F. (2021). Trends in genetic diversity and the effect of inbreeding in American Angus cattle under genomic selection. Genetics Selection Evolution, 53, Article 50. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12711-021-00644-z
Lucy, M. C. (2019). Symposium review: Selection for fertility in the modern dairy cow—Current status and future direction for genetic selection. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(4), 3706–3721. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15544
Newton, J. E., Hayes, B. J., & Pryce, J. E. (2018). The cost-benefit of genomic testing of heifers and using sexed semen in pasture-based dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(7), 6159–6173. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13476
Oliveira, C. S., Camargo, L. S. A., Silva, M. V. G. B. da, Saraiva, N. Z., Quintão, C. C. R., & Machado, M. A. (2023). Embryo biopsies for genomic selection in tropical dairy cattle. Animal Reproduction, 20(2), Article e20230064. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-3143-AR2023-0064
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., McGuinness, L. A., Stewart, L. A., Thomas, J., Tricco, A. C., Welch, V. A., Whiting, P., & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Seidel, G. E., Jr., & DeJarnette, J. M. (2022). Applications and world-wide use of sexed semen in cattle. Animal Reproduction Science, 246, Article 106841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106841
Shivaani, M., & Madan, P. (2024). Application of imaging and spectroscopy techniques for grading of bovine embryos: A review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11, Article 1364570. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1364570
Speckhart, S. L., Wooldridge, L. K., & Ealy, A. D. (2023). An updated protocol for in vitro bovine embryo production. STAR Protocols, 4(1), Article 101924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101924
Velazquez, M. A. (2023). Nutritional strategies to promote bovine oocyte quality for in vitro embryo production: Do they really work? Veterinary Sciences, 10(10), Article 604. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100604
