GENERAL ZOOTECHNICS AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT
cod. 1000539

Academic year 2011/12
2° year of course - First semester
Professor
Alberto SABBIONI
Academic discipline
Zootecnica generale e miglioramento genetico (AGR/17)
Field
Discipline della zootecnica, allevamento e nutrizione animale
Type of training activity
Characterising
64 hours
of face-to-face activities
5 credits
hub: -
course unit
in - - -

Integrated course unit module: GENERAL ZOOTECHNICS AND GENETIC IMPROVEMENT

Learning objectives

To give students the base concepts of the genetic transmission of traits.
To give students the elements for breeders selection.To give students the knowledge for animal populations management. To give students the basis for the breed recognition.

Prerequisites

Course of "Phisiscs, mathematics ant IT"

Course unit content

Base genetics. Genetic improvement. Etnology

Full programme

ZOOTECNIC DEMOGRAPHY
Structure of animal populations.
GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMALS IN ZOOTECHNICAL PRODUCTION

Quantitative traits (variability of traits, composition of phenotypic variability, environmental variability, additive and non-additive effect of genes, heritability, repeatability). Genetic improvement of animals in zootechnical production. Organisation of selection in Italy (genealogical books, registers). Animal productions recording. Relativeness. Methods of estimating the genetic merit of breeding animals (performance test, Sib test, progeny test, BLUP-animal model, genomic selection). Direct and indirect selection, genetic progress, selection for multiple traits. Reproduction methods: inbreeding and crossbreeding. Application of genetic improvement to the main zootechnical productions (bovine: milk and meat; swine: meat).
ZOOTECHNICAL ETHNOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY
General characters, origin, evolution, diffusion, classification and selection objectives of the main breeds:
bovine breeds for milk, meat, dual purpose and local breeds in Italy;
ovine breeds bred in Italy depending on their aptitude; foreign ovine breeds of major interest for Italian breeding farms;
goat breeds;
pig breeds;
horse breeds;
classification of canine breeds.

Bibliography

BITTANTE G., ANDRIGHETTO L., RAMANZIN M.: Fondamenti di Zootecnica. Liviana Ed., Padova, 1990 CALAMARI L., FAVERZANI S.: Atlante delle razze bovine (CD ROM) PAGNACCO G.: Genetica applicata alle produzioni animali. Città Studi Ed., Milano, 1997. PIERCE B.A.: Genetica, Zanichelli Ed., 2003. SITO INTERNET: http://www.unipr.it/~sabbioni/ http://www.unipr.it/arpa/facvet/dol/dol.htm

Teaching methods

Lessons and practical training on breed recognition.

Assessment methods and criteria

Oral exam

Other information

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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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