Impact of reproductive technologies on improved genetics in beef cattle

Introduction Domestication of food producing animals has led to the desire by humans to control reproduction so as to enhance production of the products (e.g., meat) from these animals. Domestication of cattle is estimated to have started about 10,000 years ago (Bradley et al., 1998). Controlled reproduction by regulating mating patterns, through use of natural breeding, has long been practiced by those who manage food producing animals. The utilization of reproductive technologies has, therefore, evolved in food animal production so as to allow producers further control over reproduction. These technologies allow for genetic improvement through increasing the selection differential with use of the most elite genetically proven individuals by mating the “best to the best”, reducing the generation interval by decreasing the age at which breeding commences, and increasing the frequency at which these elite individuals can produce offspring (by harvesting eggs, spermatozoa, or embryos).