Recent advances in goat reproduction

Abstract

The control of goat reproduction is interesting for technical reasons (synchronisation of kidding, adaptation to forage availability or to economy), and for genetic reasons (identification and dissemination of improved genotypes). The use of short-light rhythms leads to dramatically increased production of AI doses per buck and prevents the occurrence of a "resting" season. Recent identification of a bulbo-urethral lipase in goat sperm opens new perspectives in sperm preservation. Light+"short days" treatments also allow the induction of out-of-season estrous cycles and ovulations leading to enhanced fertility. Repeated use of eCG provokes the production of antibodies, delays the timing of ovulation and causes a reduction in fertility after fixed-time artificial insemination. All steps of embryo production, freezing and transfer are now controlled and allow the attainment of satisfactory rates of kids born per donor female, which are compatible with the development of the technique for exchanging genotypes between countries. In vitro production of embryos allows high development rates to be achieved after in vitro maturation and fertilisation of oocytes, and will ensure the production of synchronous populations of one-cell zygotes at the stage required by new biotechnologies.