Application of Biotechnology in Animal Genetics and Breeding

Biotechnology have contributed immensely in increasing livestock productivity and can help to alleviate poverty and hunger and ensure environmental sustainability in sub Sahara Africa. A wide range of biotechnological techniques are available and have already been used in animal genetics and breeding. The progress of genomic information increases the accuracy of selection and has a great impact on generation interval and more comprehensively rapidly replacing the traditional quantitative genetic approaches. Biotechnology has the potential to improve the productivity of animals through increase in growth rate, carcass quality, reproduction, improved nutrition and feed utilization, safety of food, improved health and welfare of animals and reduced waste through more efficient utilization of resources. Biotechnology applied in animal breeding and genetics are mainly geared towards increasing breeding efficiency of livestock especially within organized breeding schemes and animal genetic resources sustainability and maintaining genetic diversity, a major goal in animal breeding. Biotechnology development requires a high level of commitment to research and development, expensive equipment, heavy machines, expensive chemicals as well as high level of technological expertise. Not all available biotechnologies are appropriate or relevant in Sub Sahara Africa, there is need to adapt some of these technologies, develop capacity to maintain a strong base of applied in adaptive research centers and some level of training to keep abreast with new developments and to adapting such technology to local conditions so as to ensure sustainability and awareness to the rural farmers. The present paper is to review the molecular technologies in animal genetics and animal breeding.