Animal biotechnology contributes immensely to increasing livestock productivity. It involves assisted reproduction, molecular genetic analysis, and vaccine and therapeutics development to reduce the threats of diseases hence ensuring both animal and human welfare. Ethiopian economy is hugely agrarian that could have enormous benefit from ardent applications of biotechnology for increasing livestock product and productivity. The aim of this review paper is to inspect the impact of animal biotechnology research and development endeavors in the country. The country has a fairly long history in research and development activities of animal biotechnology particularly in the area of artificial cattle reproduction and vaccine development. Animal biotechnology applications in research and development arena include hormonal manipulation for estrus synchronization, artificial inseminations, molecular disease diagnostics, vaccine development and production, and molecular genetic analysis. Infrastructure and skills development in animal biotechnology sector such as assisted reproduction and genetic analysis tools are gaining momentum and need further effort to be more strengthened. Complementary assisted reproductive technologies such as the deployment of sexed semen is able to hasten the rate of replacement heifer’s production and overall milk production capacity of the country. Ethiopia has recently given a due huge emphasis for capacity building in animal biotechnology extending from promoting research, development and education in various public institutions. The constraints holding back the progress of animal biotechnology are enormous ranging from inadequate physical and human infrastructure development to lack of appreciation of opportunities provided by animal biotechnology by both private and public sectors. Livestock is almost everything for the small holder farmers as a source of food, traction power, insurance and transportation. Hence, improving animal production through biotechnology highly contributes to the food and nutrition security of the country.
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