Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the reproduction of female livestock

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) plays an important role in livestock reproduction in aspects related with fertility, acting as a monitoring signal that allows reproductive events to occur when nutritional conditions for successful reproduction are reached. IGF-I can be used as a reproductive potential selection test especially for high milk production cows whose reproductive capacity can be affected. However, IGF-I is not a predictor of reproductive events, but rather an indirect forecaster of the suitability of the animal to achieve reproduction, reason why this growth factor would not be of clinical application in the livestock industry but continues to be important in the study of the relationship between nutrition and reproduction. The purpose of this article is to show several studies that support the importance of IGF-I in female cattle reproduction and its relationship with nutrition.