A number of reproductive
biotechnologies are currently available to multiply offspring from high genetic merit
animals to enhance reproductive
efficiency and profitability both in dairy and
beef herds. Some of these
technologies such as fixed
time artificial insemination (FTAI), when correctly implemented,generally allow greater reproductive performance than natural
breeding. Besides the use of frozen-thawed
semen during
artificial insemination,
cattle recipients can also be synchronized to receive
embryos (produced in vivo or
in vitro) at set
dates with
fertility results that usually outperforms natural
breeding as well as
artificial insemination (AI), particularly during warm
seasons and in repeat breeders
cows. Altogether, the use of hormonal programs to synchronize
ovulation time simplify field routine, can easily fix physiological limitations related to
postpartum anestrus (
beef cows), poor
estrus detection efficiency due to less evident
estrus signs (
dairy cows), making AI and ET viable to commercial herds both in terms of results and economical returns.(AU)