VETERINARY ZOOTECHNICS 55

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO. 7

Assisted Reproductive Technologies

INTRODUCTION

Reproductive technologies aim to obtain a large number of offspring from animals that
are genetically superior, or to obtain offspring from infertile animals (Widayati, 2012).

The impact humans have on the reproduction of animals by means of selective breeding
and technologies improve the efficiency of food production. As reproduction of animals is an
energy-intensive process, with certain technologies, the energy input can be efficiently
reduced (Hansen, 2014). Thus, this field of science is deemed necessary and is an area of
on-going research and development, as it is one key to ensure animal production efficiency
and food safety.

OBJECTIVES
At the end of this exercise, the students must be able to:

1. Determine the principle of molecular biology and genomics

2. Determine the genetic trends in animal breeding

METHODOLOGY
1. Research about the principle of molecular biology and genomics.
2. Read and understand the common assisted reproductive technologies in
animals.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. How does molecular genetics and genomics contribute to animal breeding?
2. What are examples of artificial reproductive technologies in animals? Give at
least three (5) examples and specify its uses, advantages, and disadvantages.
Supply pictures for each example

1. How does molecular genetics and genomics contribute to animal breeding?

The application of animal breeding is based on the genetic evaluation of sires
for various traits of interest, as well as the economic weighting of traits. Pedigree information
and collected phenotypes are used to assess breeding values. Also, paternity testing,
selection based on genetic variants, diagnostic of genetic diseases, reproductive
biotechniques, fraud detection, hybrid differentiation, parasite identification, genetic
evaluation, diversity studies, and genome editing are just a few of the many applications of
molecular genetics in animal production today.
 2. What are examples of artificial reproductive technologies in animals? Give at least
three (5) examples and specify its uses, advantages, and disadvantages. Supply
pictures for each example.

Reproductive Uses Advantages Disadvantages

Technology
artificial The procedure can be used for many
insemination kinds of fertility problems. In cases
involving male infertility, it's often used
when there's a very low sperm count
or when sperm aren't strong enough to
swim through the cervix and up into
the fallopian tubes.

Advantages:

 There is no need of
maintenance of breeding bull for
a herd; hence the cost of
maintenance of breeding bull is
saved.
 It prevents the spread of certain
diseases and sterility due to
genital diseases’: contagious
abortion, vibriosis.
 By regular examination of
semen after collection and
frequent checking on fertility
make, early detection of interior
males and better breeding
efficiency is ensured.
 It makes possible the mating of
animals with great differences in
size without injury to either of the
animal.

Disadvantages:

 Requires well-trained operations

and special equipment.
 Requires more time than natural
services.
 Improper cleaning of instruments
and in sanitary conditions may
lead to lower fertility.
 If the bull is not properly tested,
the spreading of genital
diseases will be increased.
 Necessitates the knowledge of
the structure and function of
reproduction on the part of
operator.

cryopreservatio is a process that maintains biological

n (freezing) of samples in a state of suspended
gametes or animation at cryogenic temperature for
embryos any considerable period and is used to
preserve the fine structure of cells.

Advantages:
 relatively high success rate in
the general population and the
existence of well-tested
protocols. 

Disadvantages:
 the need for a partner or donor
gametes, as well as the potential
exposure risk of ovarian
stimulants needed for oocyte
retrieval.
in vitro is a complex series of procedures
fertilization used to help with fertility or prevent
genetic problems and assist with the
conception of a child. During IVF,
mature eggs are collected (retrieved)
from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in
a lab.

Advantages:
 Fallopian Tubes Not Necessary
 Good for low sperm count
 Chances of abnormalities are
low

Disadvantages:
 Multiple pregnancy
 No/Fewer eggs collected as
expected
 Emotional toll
embryo transfer to support a genetic line which has
difficulty reproducing, to develop
disease free animals or to manipulate
genetics.

Advantages:
 increase in the number of
offspring per female.
 easier and more rapid exchange
of genetic material between
countries.
 less transport of live animals,
thereby reducing risks of
disease transmission.
 storage and expansion of rare
genetic stock.

Disadvantages:
 Hormone levels may rise
during ovarian stimulation. 
 Costly
 Embryo may not survive the
freezing or thawing process.
Intracytoplasmic used to treat sperm-related infertility
sperm injection problems. ICSI is used to enhance the
fertilization phase of in vitro fertilization
(IVF) by injecting a single sperm into a
mature egg.

Advantages:
 an enhanced fertilization rate,
which can increase the number
of fertilized eggs available for
transfer or freezing
 ICSI can also increase chances
for a successful fertilization
under normal insemination
(such as IUI)

Disadvantages:
 potential for unknown risks to
the egg or embryo
 the process of ICSI itself may
damage embryos or it may
degenerate the egg
immediately.

References
de Camargo, G. M. F. (2018, July 4). The role of molecular genetics in livestock production.

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%20the%20fallopian%20tubes.

integramed. (2017, May 22). Integramed. Retrieved November 25, 2021, from

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Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection for Infertility | Michigan Medicine. (n.d.). Michigan

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NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. (n.d.). NCBI. Retrieved November 25, 2021, from

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Pros and Cons of IVF | NCCRM. (2020, March 31). NCCRM | Tubal Ligation Reversal

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