In order for the Lithuanian animal husbandry sector to be competitive on the European and world markets, it is necessary to introduce reproductive technologies and scientific advances in livestock farms, to improve the breeding system, to increase the number of breeding animals and to conserve the genetic resources of farm animals. Using conventional technologies, Lithuanian livestock farmers are unable to produce the desired number of commercial heifers of high genetic and breeding value. For this reason, heifers are imported from the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and other EU countries. Their prices are very high, but their breeding value and health status are often unclear. Imported animals are unable to adapt to local feed, housing conditions and specific micro-organisms and are therefore culled early due to health problems.
In view of the current situation, LUHS together with its partners carried out the project "Improving the breeding value and productivity of Lithuanian dairy and beef cattle population and sheep flocks through applying innovative biotechnologies", the aim of which was to resolve the problems related to the breeding value of the dairy and beef cattle and sheep flocks in Lithuania. The increasing profitability of dairy farms is driven by animal productivity and production costs. Intensification of milk production leads to faster depreciation of livestock and deadstock. Cow culling reaches 35-40%. To rebuild the herd, about 45 heifers per 100 cows are needed each year. Under normal conditions, up to 85-95 calves per 100 cows are produced, of which about half are males. Taking into account possible mortality (up to 10%) and sexual dispersal disorders (~5%), only 30-35 heifers are produced. The project will double the number of offsprings per 100 cows, i.e. about 70 heifers of the highest breeding value, through the introduction of insemination of the most promising heifers with segregated semen for herd rebuilding. The main problem in beef cattle production is the inefficient and slow increase in the breeding value and productivity of beef cattle herds. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that in Lithuania, the most common method of breeding in beef cattle herds is mating, which is the least efficient breeding method and makes little use of locally produced and evaluated bulls, while the best global genetics are hardly used. To speed up the selection process in dairy herds, 2 solutions are proposed: 1. Use of technologies for synchronisation of estrus and insemination of dairy cows; 2. Optimisation and implementation of in vitro embryo production in beef cattle production. For more details on these methods, see the attached guidelines. In sheep farming, the introduction of insemination technology allows for a much more efficient use of breeding rams, more offsprings and more accurate evaluation. Laparoscopic insemination of sheep makes it possible to recoup more quickly the costs incurred in acquiring expensive, valuable rams in foreign countries. Sheep farmers can reduce the number of rams in their flocks, thus saving money, and they can sell the semen of the good breeding rams they have, thus generating additional income. Owners of small flocks of up to 20 animals can avoid keeping rams and inseminate their ewes with semen from genetically superior rams to improve the productivity of their flocks and avoid exchanges of rams, thus preventing the spread of diseases and saving money on sheep production. Synchronisation of estrus methods results in shorter breeding and lambing seasons. In addition, the timing of insemination is more accurate and better insemination results are obtained. The introduction of insemination of sheep with cryopreserved semen has enabled the world's best semen to be made available, allowing the renewal of sheep flocks and new breeding trends to meet consumer demand for healthier food products. This helps sheep farmers to better adapt to the market and to develop a competitive sheep farming for meat capable of competing internationally. More details in the attached guidelines.
Argumentation: CATTLE: The cost-effectiveness of introducing estrus synchronisation insemination in a 50 breeding cow and heifer herd saves €6000 in costs and receives ~€8400 in income, which is a €14400 economic improvement. With increasing animal number in the herd, cost savings and additional income increase proportionally. SHEEP: The cost-effectiveness of introducing insemination with estrus synchronisation in a flock of 300 sheep is estimated to generate an economic effect of up to €14500 per year. This figure increases exponentially with the number of animals in the herd. See annexes for more.
Project description: "Improving the breeding value and productivity of the Lithuanian dairy and beef cattle population and sheep flocks through the application of innovative biotechnologies".
Aditional information about the project_EN.pdf
