Abstract
Industries based on small ruminants are major contributors to world food supply but, in extensive grazing systems, reproductive technology is not directly relevant to most enterprises. More important is the need to respond to demand in high-profit export markets for products that are ‘clean, green and ethical’ (CGE). This combination of issues led to the concept of CGE management of reproduction that is based on scientific evidence but does not require complex technology. Nutrition is the major challenge because we are limited primarily to the grazing of forages and pastures, but responding to this challenge opens up opportunities–new forages can supply energy and protein whilst improving animal health and welfare, and reducing carbon emissions. A second major factor is the need for accurate coordination of nutritional inputs with reproductive events to ensure that the metabolic signals are appropriate. To control of the timing of reproduction, we need to move beyond simply managing the presence of the male and seek more precision. Our ultimate CGE package is thus based on manipulation of male socio-sexual signals as well as nutrition, in combination with greater use of ultrasound and birth-site management to prevent neonatal mortality. Finally, genetics is critical in the development of the CGE package.
It would be difficult to incorporate the entire package in one hit–adaptations are needed to cover variations in genotype and the geographical and socio-economic environment, and some concepts need research and development. Therefore, we have suggested staged introduction of the elements of the package.
CGE management can be simple and cost-effective, and improve productivity whilst safeguarding the future of the industries in society and the marketplace. Reproductive technology might not be used by many farmers but it will be an essential tool for realizing the vision because it underpins the acceleration of genetic progress in otherwise tardy grazing industries. Finally, we suggest that the socio-economic drivers and the scientific principles of CGE management are also applicable to smallholders in developing economies.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Banchero GE, Perez Clariget R, Bencini R, Lindsay DR, Milton JTB, Martin GB (2006) Endocrine and metabolic factors involved in the effect of nutrition on the production of colostrum in female sheep. Reprod Nutr Dev 46:447–460
Ben Salem I, Rekik M, Ben Hamouda M, Lassoued N, Blache D (2009) Live weight and metabolic changes and the associated reproductive performance in maiden ewes. Small Rumin Res 81:70–74
Blache D, Zhang S, Martin GB (2003) Fertility in males: modulators of the acute effects of nutrition on the reproductive axis of male sheep. In: Campbell BK, Webb R, Dobson H, Doberska C (eds) Reproduction in domestic ruminants V. Society for Reproduction and Fertility, Cambridge, pp 387–402
Bloomfield FH, Oliver MH, Hawkins P, Campbell M, Phillips DJ, Gluckman PD et al (2003) A periconceptional nutritional origin for noninfectious preterm birth. Science 300:606
Boukhliq R, Martin GB, White CL, Blackberry MA, Murray PJ (1997) Role of glucose, fatty acids and protein in the regulation of testicular growth and the secretion of gonadotrophin, prolactin, somatotrophin and insulin in the mature ram. Reprod Fertil Dev 9:515–524
Chemineau P, Pellicer-Rubio M-T, Lassoued N, Khaldi G, Monniaux D (2006) Male-induced short oestrous and ovarian cycles in sheep and goats: a working hypothesis. Reprod Nutr Dev 46:417–429
de Brosses C (1756) Histoire des navigations aux terres australes, contenant ce que l’on sait des moeurs et des productions des contrées découvertes jusqu’à ce jour. Durand, Paris
Delgadillo JA, Flores JA, Véliz FG, Hernández HF, Duarte G, Vielma J et al (2002) Induction of sexual activity of lactating anovulatory female goats using male goats treated only with artificial long days. J Anim Sci 80:2780–2786
Digby SN, Blache D, Masters DG, Revell DK (2010) Responses to saline drinking water in offspring born to ewes fed high salt during pregnancy. Small Rumin Res 91:87–92
Digby SN, Chadwick MA, Blache D (2011) Salt intake and reproductive function in sheep. Animal 5:1207–1216
Durmic Z, Blache D (2012) Bioactive plants and plant products: effects on animal function, health and welfare. Anim Feed Sci Technol 176:150–162
Durmic Z, Hutton P, Revell DK, Emms J, Hughes S, Vercoe PE (2010) In vitro fermentative traits of Australian woody perennial plant species that may be considered as potential sources of feed for grazing ruminants. Anim Feed Sci Technol 160:98–109
Fleming TP, Lucas ES, Watkins AJ, Eckert JJ (2012) Adaptive responses of the embryo to maternal diet and consequences for post-implantation development. Reprod Fertil Dev 24:35–44
González de Bulnes A, Santiago Moreno J, López Sebastián A (1998) Estimation of fetal development in Manchega dairy ewes by transrectal ultrasonographic measurements. Small Rumin Res 27:243–250
Goodwin N, Norton BW (2004) Improving doe nutrition immediately prior to kidding increases kid survival. Proc Aust Soc Anim Prod 25:233
Goursaud AP, Nowak R (1999) Colostrum mediates the development of mother preference by the new born lamb. Physiol Behav 67:49–56
Hawken PAR, Beard AP, Esmaili T, Kadokawa H, Evans ACO, Blache D, Martin GB (2007) The introduction of rams induces an increase in pulsatile LH secretion in cyclic ewes during the breeding season. Theriogenology 68:56–66
Hawken PAR, Evans ACO, Beard AP (2008) Short term, repeated exposure to rams during the transition into the breeding season improves the synchrony of mating in the breeding season. Anim Reprod Sci 106:333–344
Hawken PAR, Esmaili T, Jorre de St Jorre T, Martin GB (2009) Do cyclic female goats respond to males with an increase in LH secretion during the breeding season? Anim Reprod Sci 112:384–389
Hernandez CE, Matthews LR, Oliver MH, Bloomfield FH, Harding JE (2010) Effects of sex, litter size and periconceptional ewe nutrition on offspring behavioural and physiological response to isolation. Physiol Behav 101:588–594
Hersom MJ (2008) Opportunities to enhance performance and efficiency through nutrient synchrony in forage-fed ruminants. J Anim Sci 86:E306–E317
Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Perkins NR, West DM (2004) Hogget mating use in New Zealand—a survey. Proc N Z Soc Anim Prod 64:217–222
Kenyon PR, Morel PCH, Morris ST, Burnham DL, West DM (2006) The effect of length of use of teaser rams prior to mating and individual liveweight on the reproductive performance of ewe hoggets. N Z Vet J 54:91–95
Lassoued N, Naouali M, Khaldi G, Rekik M (2004a) Influence of the permanent presence of rams on the resumption of sexual activity in postpartum Barbarine ewes. Small Rumin Res 54:25–31
Lassoued N, Rekik M, Mahouachi M, Ben HM (2004b) The effect of nutrition prior to and during mating on ovulation rate, reproductive wastage, and lambing rate in three sheep breeds. Small Rumin Res 52:117–125
Makkar HPS, Francis G, Becker K (2007) Bioactivity of phytochemicals in some lesser-known plants and their effects and potential applications in livestock and aquaculture production systems. Animal 1:1371–1391
Martin GB (1995) Reproductive research on farm animals for Australia—some long-distance goals. Reprod Fertil Dev 7:967–982
Martin GB, Greeff JC (2011) Genetic frontiers in the development of ‘clean, green and ethical’ management systems for the extensive sheep industry. Proc Assoc Adv Anim Breed Genet 19:143–150
Martin GB, Kadokawa H (2006) “Clean, green and ethical” animal production. Case study: reproductive efficiency in small ruminants. J Reprod Dev 52:145–152
Martin GB, Scaramuzzi RJ (1983) The induction of oestrus and ovulation in seasonally anovular ewes by exposure to rams. J Steroid Biochem 19:869–875
Martin GB, Oldham CM, Cognié Y, Pearce DT (1986) The physiological responses of anovulatory ewes to the introduction of rams—a review. Livest Prod Sci 15:219–247
Martin GB, Milton JTB, Davidson RH, Banchero Hunzicker GE, Lindsay DR, Blache D (2004) Natural methods of increasing reproductive efficiency in sheep and goats. Anim Reprod Sci 82–83:231–246
Martin GB, Blache D, Williams IH (2008) The costs of reproduction. In: Rauw WM (ed) Resource allocation theory applied to farm animals. CABI Publishing, Oxford, pp 169–191
Martin GB, Durmic Z, Kenyon PR, Vercoe PE (2009) Landcorp lecture: ‘clean, green and ethical’ animal reproduction: extension to sheep and dairy systems in New Zealand. Proc N Z Soc Anim Prod 69:140–147
Martin C, Morgavi DP, Doreau M (2010) Methane mitigation in ruminants: from microbe to the farm scale. Animal 4:351–365
Martin GB, Blache D, Miller DW, Vercoe PE (2010) Interactions between nutrition and reproduction in the management of the mature male ruminant. Animal 4:1214–1226
Min BR, Barry TN, Attwood GT, McNabb WC (2003) The effect of condensed tannins on the nutrition and health of ruminants fed fresh temperate forages: a review. Anim Feed Sci Technol 103:3–19
Nowak R (1996) Neonatal survival: contributions from behavioural studies in sheep. Appl Anim Behav Sci 49:61–72
Parr RA (1992) Nutrition-progesterone interactions during early pregnancy in sheep. Reprod Fertil Develop 4:297–300
Parr RA, Davis IF, Miles MA, Squires TJ (1993) Feed intake affects metabolic clearance rate of progesterone in sheep. Res Vet Sci 55:306–310
Rekik M, Ben Salem H, Lassoued N, Chalouati H, Ben SI (2010) Supplementation of Barbarine ewes with spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica f. inermis) cladodes during late gestation-early suckling: effects on mammary secretions, blood metabolites, lamb growth and postpartum ovarian activity. Small Rumin Res 90:53–57
Rekik M, Gonzalez-Bulnes AM, Lassoued N, Ben Salem H, Tounsi A, Ben SI (2012) The cactus effect: an alternative to the lupin effect for increasing ovulation rate in sheep reared in semi-arid regions? J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 96:242–249
Revell DK, Durmic Z, Bennell M, Sweeney GC, Vercoe PE (2008) The in situ use of plant mixtures including native shrubs in Australian grazing systems: the potential to capitalise on plant diversity for livestock health and productivity. In: Skaife JF, Vercoe PE (eds) Harvesting knowledge, pharming opportunities. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 36–49
Rosa HJD, Bryant MJ (2002) The ‘ram effect’ as a way of modifying the reproductive activity in the ewe. Small Rumin Res 45:1–16
Rosales Nieto CA, Ferguson MB, Macleay CA, Briegel JR, Martin GB, Thompson AN (2013) Selection for superior growth advances the onset of puberty and increases reproductive performance in Merino ewe lambs. Animal 7:990–997
Scaramuzzi RJ, Baird DT, Campbell BK, Driancourt M-A, Dupont J, Fortune JE et al (2011) Regulation of folliculogenesis and the determination of ovulation rate in ruminants. Reprod Fertil Dev 23:444–467
Sneddon JN (2009) Identifying and exploiting opportunities for ‘clean, green and ethical’ animal production. Agrociencia 13:51–58
Thompson JG (2006) The impact of nutrition of the cumulus oocyte complex and embryo on subsequent development in ruminants. J Reprod Dev 52:169–175
Ungerfeld R (2007) Socio-sexual signalling and gonadal function: opportunities for reproductive management in domestic ruminants. In: Juengel JI, Murray JF, Smith MF (eds) Reproduction in domestic ruminants VI. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, pp 207–221
Viñoles C, Forsberg M, Martin GB, Cajarville C, Repetto J, Meikle A (2005) Short-term nutritional supplementation of ewes in low body condition affects follicle development due to an increase in glucose and metabolic hormones. Reproduction 129:299–309
Viñoles C, Meikle A, Martin GB (2009) Short-term nutritional treatments grazing legumes or feeding concentrates increase prolificacy in Corriedale ewes. Anim Reprod Sci 113:82–92
Viñoles C, Glover KMM, Paganoni BL, Milton JTB, Martin GB (2012) Embryo losses in sheep during short-term nutritional supplementation. Reprod Fertil Dev 24:1040–1047
Zarazaga LA, Celi I, Guzmán JL, Malpaux B (2011) Enhancement of the male effect on reproductive performance in female Mediterranean goats with long day and/or melatonin treatment. Vet J 192:441–444
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Martin, G.B. (2014). An Australasian Perspective on the Role of Reproductive Technologies in World Food Production. In: Lamb, G., DiLorenzo, N. (eds) Current and Future Reproductive Technologies and World Food Production. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 752. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8887-3_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8887-3_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-8886-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8887-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)