**Abstract**

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that have come to stay and are still being improved upon in developed countries are still in their infancy stage in developing countries like Nigeria. Nigeria's cattle population is estimated to be around 18.4 million. The number is far insufficient to meet the country's demand for meat, milk, and other cow products, let alone contribute to GDP. N'dama and Muturu are both Nigerian breeds that are resistant to trypanosomosis. They are humpless longhorn and humpless shorthorn types of beef cattle. The dairy and beef cow industries' inadequate adoption of ART is partly to blame for Nigeria's low cattle output. Sex determination, multiple-ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), oestrus synchronization, artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), cloning, and genetic engineering are all examples of assisted reproductive technologies. It has been reported in humans, rodents and domestic animals, abnormal fetuses, newborns and adult offspring arise from ART. Improper matching of breeding animals mostly leads to overfat calves. This review centers on the applications and potentials of ART in the production of trypanotolerant N'dama and Muturu cattle breeds. Some unorthodox medicines which have proven effective in human reproduction can circumvent the shortfalls in the adoption of ART.

**Keywords:** assisted reproductive technologies, N'dama, Muturu, Trypanosomosis, Nigeria

## **1. Introduction**

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been successfully used to alleviate fertility issues in humans and to improve farm animal genetics. ART adoption has risen dramatically in recent years, and this trend is projected to continue [1].

ART has some drawbacks and restrictions. In vitro embryo production (IVEP), which was the predominant method for creating bovine embryos for transfer in 2017 [2], demonstrated reduced pregnancy rates after the transfer of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos when compared to natural breeding, AI, or even transfer of in vivo-derived embryos [3–5].

The use of IVEP in cattle is limited due to a high percentage of pregnancy losses [6, 7]. Despite improvements in IVEP procedures over the years, current studies have found greater early and late embryo mortality in IVEP-derived pregnancies when compared to in vivo approaches such as AI or multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) [8, 9]. Calving difficulty and abnormal birth weight [10], disturbed fetal development [11, 12] and epigenetic dysregulation [13] have also been reported recently.

Cattle production accounts for a greater proportion of the economy of commercial and semi-commercialized farmers in undeveloped countries globally. It sustains the economy of most developed countries through meat, milk and skin production. Cattle have as well been on the forefront of researches in biomedicine and reproduction. With the recent promotion in biotechnology, cattle have been improved for better production efficiencies.

The cattle population in Nigeria at present is 18,404,661 million [14] and an annual growth rate of 1.5 percent is being estimated in the herd. It is disturbing that although developing countries account for about two-thirds of the World Cattle Population, while the developed countries account for about two-thirds of total beef population [15]. The three predominant production systems and their contributions to the total population are extensive (82.1%), semi-intensive (16.8%) and intensive (1.1%). Cattle population by geographic zones reveals the percentages as follows: North-West (52%), North-East (27%), North-Central (19%) and South (2%) [16] as shown in **Figure 1**.

Indigenous breeds dominate the cattle industry in Nigeria and they primarily serve the purpose meat production and for savings as well as milk production. Foreign breeds like Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Jersey and their crosses can only be found in more intensive, specialized dairy farms [17]. Agricultural Policy for Nigeria [18] advocated the upgrading of local breeds of animals through the use of exotic breeds to a level not exceeding 50 percent to maintain hybrid vigor. Sequel to this, there is a high cost of importing an exotic bull or cow coupled with the physiological processes the animal must undergo before leaving a temperate region to the tropical region. Such processes like acclimation, acclimatization and adaptation must be achieved in time and space for a successful importation of an exotic breed into Nigeria. The economic implication of such venture is enormous.

**Figure 1.** *Cattle population by geographic zones in Nigeria.*

### *Assisted Reproductive Technologies as Veritable Tools for Improving Production Efficiencies… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.100066*

An easier approach to the above processes is the integration of ART into practices in the Nigerian cattle industry to boost production. There has been a significant increase in the utilization of ART, particularly AI and MOET, by developed and developing countries to produce millions of cattle. The adoption has led to a tremendous increase in both dairy and beef cattle production in several countries such as the United States and Brazil. In the national animal production research institute (NAPRI), Zaria, Nigeria, AI has been routinely performed since 1978.

Other interests include the monitoring of reproductive hormones and the improvement of oestrus synchronization and heat detection. Crossbreeding of the indigenous breeds of cattle with the exotic breeds is also on-going in an effort to upgrade their traits for beef production. Efforts have also been made to improve the milk productivity of indigenous cattle through crossbreeding with exotic cattle (Friesian) to produce crossbred cows (Friesian-Bunaji) with a genetic potential for increased milk yield per day [19].

Apart from NAPRI, AI is also performed in a few private commercial cattle farms. Unfortunately, these efforts impact a small proportion of cattle population in Nigeria. A recent study in northern Nigeria also revealed poor extension contact among dairy farmers, which blocks farmers from access to sources of improved dairy cattle technologies [20]. Tertiary institutions in Nigeria also present platforms for the utilization of ART in research that can improve animal reproduction and productivity. Many of these institutions have made considerable efforts in some areas of animal production, and in the treatment of reproductive diseases. Regrettably, there is a low potential for the application of ART, partly due to the absence of a number of equipment and facilities but also due to shortage of human skill or training [19] and the fear of the attendant consequences of embracing ART.

Clearly, an intensive application of ART will assist in improving reproductive efficiency and productivity in dairy and beef cattle farming in Nigeria through several approaches. Tertiary institutions and research institutes should be adequately funded and provided with modern research facilities, laboratories and equipment. Skills in ARTs should be incorporated and exploited in both teaching and research in animal science and veterinary medicine curriculums. There should be an increased synergy between farmers and researchers through agricultural extension services and above all, the farmers fears of post-ART consequences should be addressed through research.

The present turn of events in Nigeria demands that the discussion of the application of reproductive biotechnologies in cattle and their impact for future achievements be done.

The current discussion summarizes ART-based successes and implications in cattle breeding while also aiming to apply it to the effective enhancement of Nigerian dairy and beef herds.
