USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITES: A REVIEW

Abstract

A major benefit of agricultural research and technology is that the purchasing power of the poor increases, because both average incomes and access to staple food products are improved. The use of biotechnology will lead to a distinct shift in the economic returns from livestock. Livestock production currently accounts for about 43% of the gross value of agricultural production. In developed countries livestock accounts for more than half of agricultural production, while in developing countries the share is about one-third. This latter share, however, is rising quickly because of rapid increases in livestock production resulting from population growth, urbanization, changes in lifestyles and dietary habits and increasing disposable incomes. Therefore the objective of this review paper was to investigate the use of biotechnology in animal production and productivities. Biotechnology is regarded as a means to the rapid increase in agricultural production through addressing the production constraints of small-scale or resource-poor farmers who contribute more than 70% of the food produced in developing countries. Agricultural biotechnology as the solution to the problem of global food insecurity has also been reviewed by Soetan. Agricultural biotechnology has the potential to address some of the problems of developing countries like food insecurity, unfavorable environmental and climatic conditions etc mentioned above and also improve agricultural productivity.