ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS

Students acquire the basic skills for the knowledge about animal production systems, animal breeding, qualitative and quantitative features of animal production, particularly in semi-extensive systems. To give knowledge on genetic sources of domestic animal biodiversity, the within and between breeds genetic variability. At the end of the course students will be able to make the principal methods used in conservation programmes and selection schemes

Class lectures, practical activities and technical visits

Animal production systems:

Genetic resources and their productios.

Milk and meat production in cattle, sheep, goat and swine.

Endangered authochtonous breeds.

Zootechnical productions and choice of reproducers using phenotypic observations;

Cross breeding to improve the quality of the productions

Exercises and technical visits will be carried out at livestock farms

1 - Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. Fondamenti di Zootecnica (Liviana Editrice);

2 - Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. Tecniche di Produzione Animale (Liviana Editrice);

3 - Dialma Balasini – Zoognostica, per la conoscenza, la valutazione e la scelta degli animali. Edagricole.