Effects of EGF - 2001 Sheep Day

The world population is increasing at dramatic rates; therefore, the demand for meat and milk products will continue to grow (CAST, 1999). Consumers also are demanding a more uniform, higher quality, nutritious product at a low price, requiring producers to raise animals that meet these specific demands. Altering herd genetics is a slow and expensive process because of the limitation of having a set number of offspring produced by each animal. However, through the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) each animal has the ability to produce an increased number of offspring, thereby allowing the producer to more easily alter herd genetics to meet the consumers demands. Using ART, such as induction of superovulation, IVF or embryo transfer, farmers will be able to increase the number of offspring produced by genetically superior parents.