Full Description
Reproductive biology of farm animals is a critical discipline because it addresses the pressing global need for a safe, plentiful, reliable, and affordable supply of meat, milk and fibre. Faced with the need to produce more food for a growing human population while at the same time conserving resources for future generations, it is clear that the demand for scientific advances and highly skilled researchers in reproductive biology will remain a priority worldwide. This book includes the manuscripts of the talks presented at the International Ruminant Reproduction Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska. These papers review current and relevant topics in ruminant reproduction and will be helpful to scientists and students interested in both fundamental and applied aspects of ruminant reproduction. Emphasis has been given to recent advances in our knowledge of the ruminant genome and the application of this information.
Contents
Unique aspects of the domestic ruminant genomes * Creating new knowledge for ruminant reproduction from rapidly expanding and evolving scientific databases * Developmental programming of the ovine placenta * Dietary regulation of developmental programming in ruminants: epigenetic modifications in the germline * The noncoding genome: Implications for ruminant reproductive biology * Endogenous retroviruses: A model system for understanding physiological adaptation to an evolving ruminant genome * Putative role of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CARTPT) in dominant follicle selection in cattle * Assessing gene function in the ruminant placenta * Spermatogonial stem cell biology in the bull * Activation of the embryonic genome * The role of kisspeptin and gonadotropin inhibitory hormone (GnIH) in the seasonality of reproduction in sheep * Mammalian circannual pacemakers * Mechanisms and pathobiology of ovulation * Hormonal regulation of follicular development and differentiation * The roles of the ovarian extracellular matrix in fertility * Managing the dominant follicle in high-producing dairy cows * Molecular markers of sperm quality * Regulation of sperm storage and movement in the ruminant oviduct * Interaction of sperm with the zona pellucida during fertilization * A brief historical overview of corpus luteum research in ruminants * Regulation of corpus luteum development and maintenance: specific roles of angiogenesis and action of prostaglandin F2alpha * Inter- and intra-cellular mechanisms of prostaglandin F2alpha action during corpus luteum regression in cattle * Endocrine actions of interferon-tau in ruminants * The development of reproductive management practices in New Zealand * Physiological differences and implications to reproductive management of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle in a tropical environment * Using basic approaches to address applied problems in dairy reproduction * Applying nutrition and physiology to improve reproduction in dairy cattle * Controlling the dominant follicle in beef cattle to improve estrous synchronization and early embryonic development * Causes and consequences of the variation in the number of ovarian follicles in cattle * Assisted reproduction in Mediterranean wild ruminants: Lessons from the Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) * Enhancing reproductive performance in dairy water buffalo * Gestation length in farmed reindeer * Unique strategies to control reproduction in camels
