Natalia Chernyak, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences;

Oksana Goncharuk, researcher, Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics Naan

Now the farms appeared difficult problem of expanded reproduction of the herd because of changes that occur in its structure. These changes appear to increase the number of cows and reducing other age-sex groups of animals, especially repair youngstock.

Under these conditions, expect a significant increase in breeding stock from its own resources is unreasonable. To buy repair youngstock in other agricultural enterprises (or countries) is problematic. It is therefore necessary to use own reserves for increasing youngstock.

Above all it is necessary to care for the preservation of existing breeding stock and receive from them at least 90-95 calves per 100 cows per year. But to receive consistently so many calves, there should be intensive herd reproduction.

The main method of reproduction of animals in Ukraine and abroad is artificial insemination, which has gained considerable popularity due to freezing and developed methods for long-term storage of semen in liquid nitrogen. Results of artificial insemination depend, as we know, on the quality of sperm, technique and timing of insemination and physiological state of cows.

New biotechnological method, which is increasingly being used in the world, is the artificial insemination of cattle with sperm, previously separated for X-and Y-chromosomes (sexed semen).

More you can read in «Milk and Farm» magazine #4 (11), August 2012.