Impact of Biotechnology in Animal production

Biotechnology promises to make significant changes in the field of plant and animal production and health. In both areas, it will affect all stages of the production chain, agrochemicals and food processing animal by-finals.

The use of biotechnology in animal production has grown faster than its applications in crop production. Worldwide, more than half of all biotechnology research and development costs are in the field of human health. In the experimental phase, a large number of drugs, diagnostic probes, vaccines, etc. are often applied in the production of livestock before becoming available for human use. The developments in the pharmaceutical sector, therefore, have significant implications for animal production for many innovations in this sector are also applicable to animals.

The applications of biotechnology to animal production to cover four areas:

• L ', the reproduction and breeding;

• Animal health;

• Food and Nutrition;

• The growth and production.

In the field of play, the new bio-technologies such as embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, cloning and sex determination of embryos have been developed for different types of livestock such as cattle. There is substantial interest in breeding programs in developing countries because the importation of frozen embryos may be cheaper than the import of live animals.

Animal Health, the second field can be improved with new biotechnological methods of diagnosis, prevention and control of animal diseases. Diagnostic tests based on the use of antibodies and vaccines against viral and bacterial diseases are particularly relevant for developing countries and a wide application for the prevention of animal disease epidemics.

Biotechnology research in the third field of animal nutrition focuses on improving the enzyme treatment of food and reduce anti-nutritional factors in certain plants that are used as food. In developing countries, these techniques could eventually increase the potential scope of crops used to feed the largest herds of cattle.

Experiments with hormones to increase milk production and meat are the subject of much debate in industrialized countries because of possible adverse effects on animals and agricultural structures. In developing countries, however, increases in specific productivity may be a primary consideration which may lead to a rapid adoption of large-scale introduction in many industrialized countries. This field is another field of application of biotechnology.