VOLODYMYR FRANKOVYCH STAKHOVSKYI – RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY IN ANIMAL REPRODUCTION
Authors: Shcherbak O. V. , Kovtun S. I. 
Published: January 2022

On September 29, 2021, Volodymyr Frankovych Stakhovskyi, a senior research fellow at the Laboratory of Biotechnology of Reproduction of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics named after M.V.Zubets of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, turned 60 years old. He was born in the village Chupyra, Bila Tserkva district, Kyiv region. After studying at Ozeryansk Secondary School in 1978, Volodymyr Frankovych became a student of the veterinary faculty of the Bila Tserkva Agricultural Institute.

In 1983, having obtained the specialty of veterinary medicine, he began working at the Lynovytsk Sugar Plant, working as a chief veterinarian. The first experience outlined the interests of the young specialist. Acting as a chief veterinarian, Volodymyr Frankovych, along with traditional biotechnological methods of increasing the level of reproduction of the cattle herds, has repeatedly been interested in the possibilities and prospects of introducing the method of embryo transplantation for accelerated reproduction of high-value animals.

He began to master the latest technological developments and put them into production at the Pryluky Tribal Enterprise, where he worked since 1990 as Deputy Head of Embryo Transplantation. The main task of the project headed by him was to accelerate the creation of a herd of sires with a high genetic level of productivity for the Chernihiv RTE, which was successfully completed. As of 1998, 80% of the sires of this tribal association were transplants. Achieving high rates of obtaining and engraftment of embryos from record-breaking cows became possible due to perseverance and creative search for a specialist. This contributed to the further scientific path of the scientist, the practical implementation of which the future scientist began as a graduate student of the stationary form of education of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics of UAAS in 1995.

In 1998, Volodymyr Frankovych was hired as a researcher at the Laboratory of Farm Animal Breeding in the Northern Regions of Ukraine of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics of UAAS. Within the walls of the Institute under the leadership of A.P.Krugliak, the scientist prepared and in 2004 successfully defended his dissertation "Biotechnological ways to increase the level of reproduction of cattle" in the specialty 06.02.01 – breeding and selection of animals (agricultural sciences). Since 2005 he has been working in the Laboratory of Cell Engineering (now the Laboratory of Biotechnology of Reproduction).

Scientific research of Volodymyr Frankovych Stakhovskyi is aimed at the development and implementation of the modern methods of biotechnology of farm animal reproduction, in particular the in vivo production and non-surgical transplantation of cattle embryos. The main directions of scientific research are the development of ways to increase the level of reproduction of the cattle herd by improving the organization and technology of insemination of females and methods of embryo transplantation. Based on research, a method of effective use of bulls in production conditions was developed, which was approved by the Scientific and Technical Council of Ukrainian Tribal Enterprise (February 8, 1999) and included in the Instruction on the organization and technology of artificial insemination of cows and heifers (1999).

Currently, scientific and practical activities of the scientist are aimed at assessing the level of reproduction of the herd, he constantly provides methodological and practical assistance in diagnosing gynecological diseases of cattle, insemination, infertility control to ensure productive and reproductive animal health in farms (TOV "AF Petrodolynske" of Odessa region, "Galax-Agro" of Zhytomyr region, TOV "Milk of the Fatherland" of Sumy region, TOV "Inter" and POSP "Zhatkivske" of Chernihiv region (http://iabg.org.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=402: seminar03052018&catid=1&Itemid=30, http://iabg.org.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=344:11042017&catid=1&Itemid=30)).

Thus, in 2015 in the farm of TOV "AF Petrodolynske" together with scientists of the laboratory as a result of transplantation of 35 embryos of Angeln breed received pregnancy and birth of calves at the level of 23.0%. In 2015–2016, at the State Enterprise research farm "Khrystynivske" of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics named after M.V. Zubets of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine they transplanted 25 cryopreserved embryos of Holstein breed (red-spotted coat) of German selection (SPERMEX GmbH), which were obtained from five donor cows using the semen of nine bulls.

As a result of transplantation of 25 cryopreserved embryos of Holstein breed in SE RF "Khrystyniske of IABG named after M.V.Zubets NAAS" received a pregnancy rate of 20.0% and five transplant calves were born, among which four bulls (including two monozygotic twins) and one heifer. It was found that the highest genetic potential had embryos, the genetic parents of which were the donor cow Annabel 78492720 and the bull Paradox 297648, from which one bull № 4605 was obtained, which was a sire at PrAT "Uman Tribal Enterprise" for the selection process. Also, after the transplantation of embryos from the cow Dagmar 13341914 and the bull Avanti 297505, two monozygotic twin bulls were born (№№ 4606, 4607), which are currently also located and used at PrAT "Uman Tribal Enterprise".

Over the past three years, with the scientific support of Volodymyr Frankovych, the laboratory for transplantation of embryos of cattle on the basis SE RF IRGT "Khrystyniske of IABG named after M.V.Zubets NAAS" was established (http://iabg.org.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id= 460:kovtun-060519&catid=1&Itemid=30, http://iabg.org.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view =article&id=564:14092021&catid=1&Itemid=30). The functioning of this laboratory as a training and demonstration site of NAAS for embryo transplantation has been ensured. They obtained 55 embryos, transplanted 27 ones to 19 recipient heifers, pregnancy and birth of calves - 50.0%. Also in 2019 on the basis of TOV "Milk of the Fatherland" (Sumy region) the creation of such a laboratory under the concluded economic contract was started (http://iabg.org.ua/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=481:kovtun-11019&catid= 1&Itemid=30).

In the experimental farms of the system of National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine V. F. Stakhovskyi performs a set of visual-clinical-reflexological methods of assessment and correction of sexual function of heifers to increase the efficiency of embryo transplantation and artificial insemination. He provides recommendations on ethological and morphological features of sexual arousal in cows and heifers unsuitable for embryo transplantation and the feasibility of their use for artificial insemination. Such approaches are part of the task of adjusting the breeding system, the use of breeds of foreign selection, obtaining purebred bulls (Resolution of the Presidium of NAAS from 30.06.15, protocol № 7).

The main research results are used in the farms of various forms of ownership ("Breeder" of Pryluky district of Chernihiv region, Pryluky and Chernihiv regional tribal enterprises, PrAT "Agro-Soiuz", PAT "Poltavaplemservice"). The results of V. F. Stakhovsky's scientific research are presented in the 30 scientific works, including three methodical recommendations and a patent for a utility model.