Application of reproductive biotechnologies for sustainable production of livestock in Turkey

Abstract

The majority of farming households in Turkey still depend on low-input semisubsistence agriculture and livestock production. Despite a slow decline in recent years, agriculture and livestock production remain major employers in Turkey and are significant contributors to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) (1). Livestock production is an important and traditional sector in the agricultural economy of Turkey and is facing a decrease in herd numbers of cattle, sheep, and goats, and in meat production, despite growth in domestic demand. Animal production is vital for sufficient and balanced nutrition of the population. Sound evaluation of the critical factors of production, namely capital and labor, are necessary for establishing the baseline and advancing animal science and technology. The livestock industry is also valuable for enabling strategic investments and placements of labor to develop within the sector. The livestock industry is linked with crop production and agricultural economy.The employment rate in animal agriculture is much higher in Turkey than in the USA and EU. The livestock industry helps to reduce unemployment year-round. According to TurkStat, the agriculture sector constituted 7.4% of the total GDP in Turkey (1). However, agriculture is only 1.7% and 1.9% of the total GDP in the USA and EU, respectively (1). In its contribution to the economy, the Turkish agricultural sector consists of three million agricultural farms, most of which typically have mixed farming in which crops and animal production occur together. According to typological classification, about two-thirds of farms specialize in field crop production and livestock production. Only 2%-3% of the total are specialized in livestock production alone (2,3). Although this percentage is low, in recent years there has been intensive investments in livestock by means of low interest rate loans and government subsidies. Livestock production is important, especially milk production, for which Turkey ranks about 15 th in the world.Despite the fluctuations in milk and meat prices, the livestock industry has a significant role in preventing Abstract: Reproductive biotechnology encompasses powerful tools to enhance the efficiency and profitability of livestock reproduction, production, and product quality. These technologies include genomic selection, evaluation of semen (from bulls, bucks, and rams) using advanced cell and molecular technologies, semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination, estrus synchronization, superovulation of the females (cows, dams, and ewes), ovum pick-up, in vitro fertilization and embryo culture, embryo transfer, and pregnancy detection. The extent of applications of these modern technologies and their economic impacts for livestock production in Turkey are elusive. As a result, there is an urgent need for sound economic analyses, research and education, training of animal producers to facilitate technology transfer, and informing of the public of the benefits of animal biotechnology. The objective of th...

Productive Characteristics and Reproductive Responses to Estrus Synchronization and Flushing in Abou-Delik Ewes Grazing in Arid Rangelands in Halaieb - Shalateen - Abouramad Triangle of Egypt.

“…Most recently, Kaya et al (2018) noted that hormonal protocols are one of the main items to improve herds productivity. Prostaglandin F 2 α effectively synchronize estrus in sheep resulting in fairly good fertility rates.…”

Oocyte recovery and in vitro embryo production in cows treated with a single dose of follicle-stimulating hormone

“…The manipulation of plasma FSH levels could be an alternative method to maximize oocyte recovery via ovum pick-up (OPU), delaying the dominant follicle selection, preventing atresia of subordinate follicles, and increasing the mean diameter of follicles by making them available for OPU [7]. The response to exogenous FSH, however, may be influenced by factors such as variation in the concentration of FSH administered, the breed (Bos taurus indicus or Bos taurus taurus), the method of application, the frequency of administration, and the interaction of FSH with LH [8][9][10][11]. The Nelore breed (Bos taurus indicus) differs from other breeds as these cows produce more follicles per wave of follicular growth and are more sensitive to FSH treatment, and they stand out regarding the in vitro production of embryos [11,12].…”