REPRODUCTIVE BIOTECHNOLOGIES IN DAIRY INDUSTRY IN PAKISTAN - M. A. Kakar E. Kakar; M. N. Shahwani; M. Jan; A. M. Raza; J. Hassan; M. Saeed; S. Babar; M. K. Baloch (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2012)
Biotechnology is founded upon an ever-increasing understanding of the mechanisms that maintains living organisms and allows them to reproduce from generation to generation. We are living in an age of biotechnology, which is developing rapidly to expand further in the next few decades. It is a modern science that deals with the biological process through which technological innovation can be achieved and subjected to deliver goods and services for the benefit of human being. This “august” journey, which started with the production of insulin by the bacteria E. Coli, experienced a phenomenal growth since than. Reproductive biotechnologies include, semen processing, cryo-preservation, vitrification, sexing of sperm and embryos, artificial insemination, embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, cloning, transgensis, juvenile in vitro embryo transfer, chimera production, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer, aspiration of oocytes from the live animals and zygote intra-fallopian tube transfer. In Pakistan these modern technologies have yet to play their due role in different areas especially in the fields of agriculture, medicine, dairy industry and environment. In the present post-flood scenario, the dairy supply chain recognized the need to work together in order to address this significant challenge. Especially in Pakistan, this future intra-disciplinary cooperation will also be needed among the industries, consumers and research institutes. Failure to achieve a high level of cooperation can potentially lead to a delay in reproductive biotechnologies application in development and will result in serious long lasting economic losses. This review is an attempt to analyze the current situation of the reproductive biotechnologies in dairy industry in the country and propose means for research and development interventions in the dairy sector through coordinated efforts of academia, government departments, development agencies and private sector organizations to achieve the highest possible benefits.
Keywords: journal article; Milk; cow; buffalo; dairy production; artificial insemination; biotechnology