RESULTS AND PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGICAL METHODS AND TECHNIQUES IN THE REPRODUCTION OF SMALL RUMINANTS
In recent decades, biotechnological methods for targeted regulation of reproductive function have become more important in the practice of farm animals reproduction. These methods have been widely disseminated all over the world, especially in cattle breeding. As for small ruminants, biotechnological techniques for regulating reproductive function are not widely used. At the same time, FAO statistics show that the number of sheep and goat breeds and their geographical spread are constantly increasing now. This is primarily due to an important characteristic of small ruminants. It can be explained by the fact that they can breed and produce a diverse and high quality product in areas with unfavourable or sometimes even impossible conditions for other farm animals. The wide dissemination and expansion of the breeding range of small ruminants is also supported by the development and improvement of the so-called Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). The article deals with ART that are quite widespread (artificial insemination, sperm cryopreservation and creation of storages, induction and synchronization of estrus), and ART which are used in rare cases (technology of superovulation induction and embryo transfer, invitro embryo production and embryo cryopreservation). The article gives reasons for the rare use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programmes in sheep and goat breeding in practice.