COMPONENTS OF FORMING THE SCIENTIFIC POTENTIAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS NAMED AFTER M.V. Zubets of NAAS (to the 50th anniversary of the organization)

The purpose of the article is to highlight the main components of establishing the scientific capacity of a reputable scientific institution in the field of livestock production – the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics named after M.V. Zubets of NAAS (IABG named after M.V. Zubets NAAS). Research methods are general scientific (analysis, synthesis, classification), special historical (problematic-chronological, comparative-historical) and source studies. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the generalization of the legislative and regulatory documentary base regarding the establishment of the institute, the delineation of its primary tasks. The most significant achievements of the institute’s scientists in breeding and selection, genetics and biotechnology of reproduction, as well as the preservation of the gene pool of farm animals are presented. It is shown that their efforts have developed a new theory and methodology of breed formation, the main conceptual provisions of which are the basis of programs for the creation of highly productive specialized breeds and types of cattle. The achievements of the IABG named after M.V. Zubets NAAS as the main NAAS’ institution for the implementation of the programs of scientific research are summarized. The methods developed by the geneticists and biotechnologists for genetic consolidation control and the direction of the selection process in crossbreeding by a complex of polymorphic genetic-biochemical systems; technologies for obtaining monozygotic twin calves from demi-embryos; a method for assessing the frost resistance of male sperm by biochemical indicators; methods for obtaining embryos of cattle and pigs outside the body by in vitro fertilization of cow oocytes using cryopreserved epididymal spermatozoa of bulls and boars, and activation of cow oocytes to ameiotic parthenogenesis have been updated. It is stated that the status of the main scientific-methodological and coordination center in the field of livestock breeding is due, among other things, to the scientific potential of its predecessors – the Kyiv Research Station of Animal Husbandry “Terezine” and the Central Research Station of Artificial Insemination of Farm Animals, active cooperation with leading scientists in the implementation of joint scientific projects and within the framework of a specialized academic council, the preparation of the main printed issue – the interdepartmental thematic scientific collection “Animal Breeding and Genetics”.