Bovine spermatozoa in vitro: A review of storage, fertility estimation and manipulation

In vitro storage of bovine spermatozoa virtually indefinitely has provided the opportunity to distribute conveniently and widely germ plasm from superior sires and benefit the productivity of cattle around the world. Techniques developed in our laboratories are well on their way to being able to predict accurately the fertility of young, prospective sires without the inconvenience and expense of large field trials. Manipulation of spermatozoa provides opportunities for the predetermination of sex of resulting offspring, the introduction of foreign DNA into oocytes, and the formation of transgenic individuals. Many other possibilities are limited only by the ingenuity of those conducting research in this exciting field.