Bioscientifica Proceedings

Summary. Reproductive traits can range from lowly to moderately heritable. Genomic technologies provide a powerful tool for improving selection for traits that are lowly heritable, sex-linked, or not expressed until later in life. Therefore, as genomic technologies become a part of selection decisions, there is a critical need to understand how specific gene variants affect reproductive traits in cattle. Both classical quantitative genetics approaches and geno...

Summary. Embryo-maternal communication, as well as recognition and establishment of pregnancy, is predominantly controlled by secretion of hormones and proteins. Furthermore, uterine fluid serves as a histotroph and contains factors essential for embryo development and elongation, making it a meaningful source for proteomic approaches of early embryonic development. The studies included in this review address the analysis of uterine fluid and endometrium durin...

Summary. During her lifetime, the ovarian environment of female domestic farm animals is subject to biochemical changes brought about by multiple factors, including husbandry practices, production demands and disease, which may ultimately impair oocyte quality and subsequent embryo development. The lactating dairy cow appears to be particularly challenged in this respect and many investigations have been carried out to characterize the underlying physiology an...