The introduction to the basics of animal breeding covers the most important performance characteristics of farm animals and discusses the importance of animal production. The inheritance patterns of qualitative and quantitative traits are shown and the terms kinship, inbreeding, heritability, selection intensity, breeding value and breeding success are explained in detail.

Die Lehrveranstaltung ist zweiteilig aufgebaut:Im Molekularbiologischen Laborpraktikum (5 Kurstage, jeweils freitags, ab dem 26. Sept) erlernen die Studierenden grundlegende Techniken der Molekularbiologie.Im anschliessenden Methodentraining (5 Kurstage im Block) wenden sie zentrale Methoden des jeweiligen Fachgebiets praxisnah in einer der beteiligten Forschungsgruppen an.

Animal genetic resources include the genetic and species diversity of livestock. While few high-yield breeds have been improved through breeding, many local breeds have declined. Without conservation efforts and sustainable breeding, numerous regionally adapted breeds face extinction.

This forum is a platform for the critical reflection of relevant topics of livestock in the frame of the world food system comprising issues from basic knowledge to acceptance in society. The exchange is operated by scientific writing, presentation and critical analysis in discussions

Technologies of molecular animal-, immuno- and biochemical genetics will be shown and applied to selected domestic and farm animals. The students will perform laboratory tests for genome analysis (identification of gene loci, gene mapping), gene expression (mRNA, proteins), diagnostics (analysis of hereditary diseases) and verification of animals and animal products (parentage control, forensics).

The aim of this course is to provide in-depth knowledge of the organisation of pig breeding, applied breeding value assessment and nutrition. Students understand the interrelationships and their effects on product quality and the economic efficiency of pig production.

The course provides the scientific basis of the central aspects in ruminants of cattle, sheep and goat breeding, diseases and the interrelationship of animal nutrition and environment. Aspects of organic farming and tropical livestock systems form part of the course. Means of knowledge transfer include interdisciplinary approaches, disciplinary parts, web-based learning and self-study.

The students will learn the conceptual and methodological background of research in the animal science groups of the Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Science. In addition to teaching the theoretical background, the major aim of the course is to integrate the students into the research groups (on job training) and, hence, to focus on the practical application of the knowledge.

The students will learn the conceptual and methodological background of research in the animal science groups of the Institute of Plant, Animal and Agroecosystem Science. In addition to teaching the theoretical background, the major aim of the course is to integrate the students into the research groups (on job training) and, hence, to focus on the practical application of the knowledge.