Breeding Animals

Learn to plan implementation of an animal breeding program using

• genetic theory,
• practical applications to daily husbandry practice, and
• management of animal breeding programs.

Includes a sound introduction to genetics
Relevant to any type of animal (pets, farm animals, wildlife, horses, dogs, etc)
Personal guidence from highly qualifed and experienced animal scientists and practitioners.

Lesson Structure

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction To Genetics
2. Genetics
3. Selection
4. Pure Breeding
5. Introduction To Cross Breeding
6. Cross Breeding
7. Livestock Improvement

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Explain genetic influence on the characteristics exhibited by animals.
• Explain the factors that interact with genes to produce nonconformity in animals.
• Develop procedures to select animals for a breeding program.
• Develop an animal straight breeding program.
• Develop an animal cross breeding program.
• Explain the commercial methods used to breed farm animals

What You Will Do

• Explain how genes control the inheritance of characteristics, using two specific examples of animal breeding.
• Distinguish between the phenotype and the genotype, of a specified farm animal.
• Distinguish between dominant and recessive gene pairs.
• Explain the differences in the function of chromosomes, of a specified fowl, when compared with a specified mammalian farm animal.
• Describe the linkage of gender with the expression of non-sex character traits, in a specified farm animal.
• Explain the role of mutation in animal breeding, including both positive and negative aspects.
• Explain the role of the environment in all factors which determine genetic expression in animals.
• Explain the relevance of hybrid vigour to breeding different animals, including;
  • chickens
  • pigs
  • sheep
• Explain heritability in different classes of livestock, including:
  • dairy cattle
  • beef cattle
  • pigs
  • sheep.
• Develop a set of aims for a breeding program, for a chosen farm animal.
• Develop a checklist of criteria for selecting animals in a breeding program for a specified type of farm animal.
• Explain natural selection, by giving an example of its application in a farm animal breeding program.
• Explain artificial selection in animal breeding programs, including:
  • it's aims
  • the methods used.
• Explain genetic regression by giving an example of its possible occurrence in a farm breeding program.
• Design a checklist of factors to consider when purchasing breeding stock for a specified farm situation.
• Explain how an animal breeder in the learner's locality selects animals from which to breed, for a commercial breeding program.
• Distinguish between different types of straight breeding, including:
  • close breeding
  • line breeding.
• Explain how a specified pure breed (ie. straight breed) is maintained.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of line breeding in a breeding program for a specified type of farm animal.
• Explain where it would be appropriate to use line breeding methods in animal breeding programs.
• Explain where it would be appropriate to use close breeding methods in animal breeding programs.
• Write a procedure for straight breeding of a specified type of animal.
• Differentiate between different types of cross breeding, including:
  • terminal cross
  • two breed cross
  • back cross
  • three breed cross
  • rotational cross.
• Explain the concept of 'grading up', as it relates to commercial animal husbandry.
• Evaluate 'crossbreeding' in an animal breeding program investigated by the learner, to determine its relevance to the situation.
• Determine a commercial situation, in which crossbreeding may be justified.
• Explain the services provided by a specified Breed Society in cross breeding, on a specified farm.
• Write a procedure for cross breeding of a specified type of animal.
• Define breeding terminology including:
  • artificial insemination
  • synchronised heats
  • ova transplants
• Describe the breeding programs which use artificial insemination, synchronised heats and ova transplants.
• Explain the importance of synchronised heats to breeding animals.
• Describe two different testing methods, observed by the learner that are used for animal breeding programs,
• Evaluate the relevance of breeding methods, that are used on a specified property, to the stated aims of the property owner.
• Describe the husbandry procedures which may be carried out during the pregnancy of a specified farm animal.
• Describe husbandry practices which may be carried out during the birth of a specified type of farm animal, including:
  • routine husbandry procedures
  • emergency husbandry procedures
• Plan the management of a breeding program to maximise male breeding performance for either:
  • dairy
  • pigs
  • poultry
  • beef
  • sheep
  • horses
• Perform and record the birth of a specified animal.

EXTRACT FROM COURSE NOTES:

The Technique of Artificial Insemination

There are two main parts to Artificial Insemination, namely:

• collecting, diluting, freezing and packing the semen from the bull; and
• thawing out and injecting the semen into the cow at the right time for conception.

With each ejaculation, a normal bull produces 7 - 10 millilitres of semen. Each millilitre contains one to one and half thousand million healthy sperm. After collection, the semen is diluted to five times the original volume using a solution called an extender. A typical extender consists of egg yolk, sodium citrate, antibiotics, dextrose and glycerol.

The diluted semen is packed into long, thin containers called straws. Each straw contains enough semen for one insemination. Every straw is labelled with the name and number of the bull and the date of packing. The straws are then deep frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -142°C or in liquid nitrogen vapour at a temperature of -125°C. Although semen will freeze at any temperature below 0°C, it is safe from injury only when it is below - 40°C. to - 65°C. Freezing of sperm in N_(l) also allows sperm to remain viable for 20 years or more after collection.

As the temperature rises above the safe zone, ice crystals in the semen will enlarge and move, causing damage to the sperm and reducing their viability. Once a straw has been thawed out it must be used at once or thrown away. Each straw contains 0.5ml or diluted semen. By using deep frozen semen, one bull can produce enough semen to inseminate 30 000 to 40 000 cows a year. Using natural service, one bull might serve 50 cows a year.

The semen is thawed out and deposited into the uterus of the cow using a special instrument consisting of a long plunger and a long, thin plastic tube. A cow is inseminated when she is ‘on heat’. The plastic tube must be passed through the cervix and the semen placed into the uterus so that it is available to fertilise the egg after ovulation has taken place. Insemination is a skilled process and should be carried out only by a trained operator. A good inseminator should achieve an 80% conception rate.

What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?

This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.

If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.

If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.

If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.

There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.

Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.

You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.

You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.

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