Reproductive biotechnology in small ruminants -A review

The present scenario of small ruminants assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) show a great deal of promise. The last two decades have changed the management of goat breeding dramatically through improved nutrition and veterinary assistance. Despite this, the artificial insemination (AI) is the only ART applied in selection programs. Now, it is essential to improve the efficiency of other useful ART technologies. The ARTs, for example cloning or transgenesis, which are expensive and technically complex, are already being adopted by a number of biotechnological companies and the production of biomedical proteins (rc-proteins) from transgenic goats is very close to reaching commercial applications. Nevertheless, the application of these ARTs in small ruminant's production would depend on efficiency and acceptance by consumers.