ABSTRACT
Applications to commercial livestock production include directed multisire fertilization of oocytes collected after superovulation and (or) frozen for long-term storage. One of the more useful applications of in vitro fertilization will be an assessment of the ability of semen to fertilize. The most important performance traits of domestic livestock appear to be conditioned by many genes. Potential impact for interspecies transfer of single mammalian genes is somewhat limited. Genetic changes in livestock populations are associated with the reproductive process. The benefits from selection and crossbreeding are obtained by controlled mating of selected males and females. Several different types of genetic engineering involve the transplant of nuclear material. Through nuclear transplant, it will be possible to breed a bull to himself or a cow to herself. A spin-off has been that the experience gained in harvesting and culturing the gametes and embryos has facilitated development of cloning, nuclear transplants, in vitro fertilization, sex control, and other technologies classified as micromanipulation.
