An Australasian Perspective on the Role of Reproductive Technologies in World Food Production

Abstract

Industries based on small ruminants are major contributors to world food supply but, in extensive grazing systems, reproductive technology is not directly relevant to most enterprises. More important is the need to respond to demand in high-profit export markets for products that are 'clean, green and ethical' (CGE). This combination of issues led to the concept of CGE management of reproduction that is based on scientific evidence but does not require complex technology. Nutrition is the major challenge because we are limited primarily to the grazing of forages and pastures, but responding to this challenge opens up opportunities-new forages can supply energy and protein whilst improving animal health and welfare, and reducing carbon emissions. A second major factor is the need for accurate coordination of nutritional inputs with reproductive events to ensure that the metabolic signals are appropriate. To control of the timing of reproduction, we need to move beyond simply managing the presence of the male and seek more precision. Our ultimate CGE package is thus based on manipulation of male socio-sexual signals as well as nutrition, in combination with greater use of ultrasound and birth-site management to prevent neonatal mortality. Finally, genetics is critical in the development of the CGE package.It would be difficult to incorporate the entire package in one hit-adaptations are needed to cover variations in genotype and the geographical and socio-economic environment, and some concepts need research and development. Therefore, we have suggested staged introduction of the elements of the package.CGE management can be simple and cost-effective, and improve productivity whilst safeguarding the future of the industries in society and the marketplace. Reproductive technology might not be used by many farmers but it will be an essential tool for realizing the vision because it underpins the acceleration of genetic progress in otherwise tardy grazing industries. Finally, we suggest that the socio-economic drivers and the scientific principles of CGE management are also applicable to smallholders in developing economies.

Alternative methods for control of reproduction in small ruminants: A focus on the needs of grazing industries

“…This need not be a problem because the scientific basis of the CGE concept is relevant to all socio-economic environments, from large rangeland systems in developed economies to smallholders in developing economies. They all need simple and inexpensive management options and to target consumers with discretionary spending power if they are to get higher prices (Martin, 2014). Therefore, we expect this discussion to be applicable to livestock industries in a wide variety of socio-economic and geographical contexts.…”

“…To ensure change of practice, we would need "fourth generation" adoption strategies because the traditional top-down approaches to extension have largely failed livestock industries based on extensive management (for an example, see Sneddon, 2009). Given that it not feasible to expect producers in either country to adopt the whole CGE package in one step, a staged approach with progressive levels of difficulty seems logical (Martin, 2014). For individual managers, the optimum series of stages would depend on the economic, geographical and societal environment.…”

AN INCREASE IN THE VIABILITY OF RAM SPERM WHEN CULTURED IN MODIFIED MEDIUM FOR in vitro FERTILIZATION

“…There are reports of transplantation [5], producing embryos and the use of thawed semen [6], preparation of bull spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization and increase in their fertilizing capacity [7], morphological evaluation and increase in the boar semen capacitation [8,9]. The experience of foreign researches is based on the recognition of the advisability of in vitro fertilization (IVF) fresh sperm [6,10,11].…”

Nanomedicine and mammalian sperm: Lessons from the porcine model

“…Assisted reproductive 35 technology (ART) represents a collection of sophisticated laboratory techniques and approaches for 36 the in vitro manipulation of gametes and embryos that were developed to enhance the chances of 37 fertilisation and development to full-term, respectively. Today, ART is deemed essential for the 38 production of livestock [1][2][3], the preservation of animal species [4], and also for the treatment of 39 human infertility [5, 6]. In addition, reproductive science investigates an array of fundamental 40 biological processes underlying reproduction, including cell division and fusion, genetic 41 recombination, maintenance of pluripotency, and cell migration and differentiation, which are very 42 similar to the events involved in tumour biogenesis and tissue regeneration.…”

“…Such approaches have improved the 99 efficacy of existing techniques such as sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) [32-34], loading 100 sperm with exogenous proteins while preserving their viability [35], and tagging sperm for Interestingly, the majority of nanomaterial-mediated delivery studies in sperm have utilised bull and 109boar sperm -a phenomenon with a rather simple explanation. As discussed previously, the use of110 ART, specifically artificial insemination, for breeding livestock is continuously expanding[1, 2, 4],111 and the potential of novel 'accessory' techniques, including superovulation, sperm separation, in vitro handling and fertilisation of oocytes, embryo transfer, cloning via embryo splitting, micromanipulation techniques, has led to the clear need for increased sperm 'transfection' efficacy.…”