Recent Genetic, Breeding and Biotechnology Techniques for Improving Livestock Production

Techniques of modern biology such as molecular cloning of genes, gene transfer and genetic manipulation of animal are a truth today and are finding their ways into research and development programmes. We need to stay abreast of new techniques because the practice of livestock breeding changes with advances in technology. We modified the way we measure and evaluate animals as we came to understand Mendelian mechanisms and as we developed statistical procedures for dealing with quantitative traits. Biotechnology is offering extraordinary opportunities for increasing livestock production. The significance of biotechnology and its significance are only gradually being accepted. Biotechnology is not new. The Man has used it for thousands of years. These have better possibilities for manipulating biological systems for the advantage of mankind. The intention of this chapter is to review available biotechnology and other technologies with potential application in livestock improvement and to identify those, which have been or may be applied.