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Animal-based agriculture is being used to surmount the food demand for the ever-increasing human population under limited land and water resources. The meat and milk consumption has severely grown over the past few decades with increasing population and the demand is expected to grow by double in the next three decades. The fulfillment of milk, meat, and related products demand has turned into a greater challenge for poor and developing countries which is leading to malnutrition. The traditional methods for livestock production are facing challenges due to limited offspring production, unstable genetic improvement, tedious methods, high cost, and disease susceptibility. Here we review the modern technological developments offering interesting solutions to the issues associated with conventional methods for animal production. The advanced biotechnological interventions such as in vitro fertilization, somatic nuclear transfer, embryonic stem cell technology, multiple ovulations, and embryo transfer could improve the nutritional composition and animal health. The capabilities of precise and desired interventions at the cellular and molecular levels renders unprecedented developments in animal reproduction. Molecular marker-assisted selection and transfer of useful and superior traits to the recipient line ensures improvements such as better growth, quality, and disease-resistance for several generations. The chapter covers biotechnological methodologies adopted in modern animal breeding, including marker-assisted selection methods for stable and improved livestock production. |
