Reproduction biotechnologies in cattle and real or potential implementation for selection

Abstract

This paper reminds the basis of several biotechnologies or reproduction in cattle : superovulation and embryo transfer, embryo sexing, ovum pick-up and in vitro fertilisation, embryo or somatic cloning. Their current technical limitation are described in addition to improvement prospects and respective costs. Consequences of using these technologies in animal breeding programmes are detailed for the current situation and for the future. Embryo transfer turns out to be efficient and profitable. The most interesting prospects for the long term are given by cloning if technical handles can be circumvented.