Invited review: Use of assisted reproduction techniques to accelerate genetic gain and increase value of beef production in dairy herds

The contribution of the calf enterprise to profit dairy farm is generally considered small, with beef bull selection on farms often not a high priority. However, this likely change in future as rapid rate expansion herd some countries set plateau and improvements fertility combine reduce proportion breed calves required farms. This presents opportunity increase born, increasing both value sales marketability calves. Beef embryos could become new breeding tool for dairies producers need reassess their policy consequence welfare concerns poor prices. Assisted reproductive technologies can contribute accelerated genetic gain by allowing an increased number offspring be produced from genetically elite dams. There are following 3 general classes donor females interest integrated dairy-beef system: (1) dams, which oocytes recovered live using ovum pick-up fertilized vitro semen bulls; (2) where (3) commercial dams (?50% genetics), ovaries collected abattoir postslaughter, bulls that suitable use cows (resulting embryo ?75% genetics). expected benefits these collective developments include milk production addition transformation crop combination good merit female premium-quality aim review describe how harnessed intensively select improvement herd.