Application of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics in Dairy Animal Improvement Programmes in India

摘要

Reduced fertility or infertility is a major problem in Indian cattle and buffaloes. Reproductive failure in animals may be because of several reasons including poor feeding, management, poor quality of AI etc. However, it can be also due to genetic reasons e.g. chromosomal abnormalities which are usually associated with reduced fertility / infertility, embryonic loss, foetal waste and internal or external genital malformation. Chromosomal abnormalities account for substantial losses in animal's production and quite a few bulls reared for breeding cannot be used effectively due to problems related to fertility. Chromosomal abnormalities can affect a large population in two ways: (i) it can be transmitted to large population through Artificial Insemination programme and (ii) it can cause repeat breeding problems in females because of embryonic losses, and poor semen quality in breeding bulls. All these animals can be karyotyped even at calf hood stage. Subsequently, abnormal animals can be culled toavoid the risk of transmission and minimize the costs on their rearing.