Animal Breeding I

Abstract

Introduction to basics of animal breeding. Importance of animal production. Species of livestock and their products, performance recording, functional traits, genetic diversity, breeding goals. Qualitative and quantitative traits. Basic knowledge of breeding methods: genetic and environmental variation, heritability, genetic correlation, estimation of breeding values, selection, mating systems.

Objective

Show the importance of animal production for Swiss and international agriculture. Name the livestock species, their products, systematic classification and breeding and production goals. Describe methods to measure animal performance (performance recording) and functional traits. Define the most important parameters and methods in animal breeding.

Content

Evolution, domestication, history of animal breeding. Definition, models of animal production, species of livestock, numbers, distribution. Genetic diversity, breeds, production and breeding goals. Traits: performance, fucntional. Performance recording. herd replacement. Qualitative (monogenic) and quantitative (polygenic) traits, Mendelian genetics, quantitative genetics. Genetic and environmantal variation, heritability, genetic correlation, selection, selection response.

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