Transgenics and dairy animal reproduction

Current status and potential

Abstract

Application of transgenic technology to domestic animals has been limited in the past. Improvements in reproductive techniques, including in vitro embryo production, and economic incentives have lead to the implementation of transgenic programs by commercial groups. Transgenic technology incorporates molecular and reproductive techniques in order to direct and harness the tremendous protein synthetic capacity of the mammary gland of dairy animals. Transgenic animals (animals which have exogenous DNA stably integrated into their genome) can be used to express value-added exogenous proteins in their milk for subsequent purification or to increase milk protein and calcium concentration in their milk for increased efficiency of production of processed dairy foods.