Introductory Lecture

TERM PAPER

INFERTILITY IN FARM ANIMALS

Lecturers

O.M. Onagbesan A.O. Ladokun I.J. James O.A. Osinowo

Defining Animal Reproduction

Animal reproduction: Process by which offspring are produced by male and female parents.

Involves heterosexual mating, conception, pregnancy, parturition and lactation.

Conception results from fusion of male and female gametes (i.e. spermatozoon and ovum), known as fertilization.

Animals must first attain reproductive age (puberty) before being capable of producing gametes.

Reproduction involves close coordination of various physiological events to be successful. This is usually achieved through the action of reproductive hormones.

Interdisciplinary nature of Animal reproduction

Proper understanding of animal reproduction requires knowledge in diverse fields such as:

Reproductive physiology, endocrinology,

environmental physiology, cell biology,

immunology, genetics, biochemistry, sociology,

reproductive diseases, psychology, embryology,

obstetrics and so on.

Animal reproduction and economic livestock production

Livestock products such as milk and eggs are directly from reproductive processes.

Meat production depends on production of young animals (reproduction) for growing and fattening.

Profitability of livestock enterprise largely depends on reproductive efficiency.

Role of reproduction in genetic improvement

Gy = SD * h2

GI

where

SD = selection differentialh2 = heritability estimate, andGI = generation interval in years.