58177 - General Zootechny and Genetic Improvement

Learning outcomes

The first part of the course aims to acquaint students with the morphology of domestic animals and pets and methods of morphological evaluation. Tools and methods of study for the principal breeds of principal breeds of horses, cattle, pigs and dogswill also be presented. The last part of the course focuses on both Mendelian and quantitative genetics applied to animal breeding. Aspects related to the genetic evaluation of breeders will also be covered.

Course contents

Individual morphological, physiological, biological and mental traits. Habitus and constitution. Species, sub-species and breeds. Regions in species: cattle, horses, pigs and dogs. Standing, movement and gait. Coats and furs and particular characteristics thereof. Age determination in bovines, equines, and sheep. Signalling status. Breeding aptitudes. Principal breeds of horses, cattle, pigs and dogs. Mating and sexual traits. Castration methods; effects of castration. Trait variability. Causes of variations: environment, diet, functional exercise of various body parts. Sex determinism. Concept of sex-linked heredity, sex-limited traits. Qualitative and quantitative genetics. Traits with Mendelian behaviour in animals. Genetic interaction and new phenotypes. Modifying genes. Epistasis, heterosis. Interaction between genotype and environment. Maternal effect and cytoplasmic heredity. Mutations in bred animals. Disease inheritance, hereditary predisposition and hereditary resistance. Genetic polymorphism; genetic markers. Statistical analysis of variability. Inheritability. Gene additivity. Trait inheritance in species of zootechnical interest. Methods for the reproduction and improvement of bred animals: inbreeding, selection, cross-breeding and hybrids (theoretical bases, technical developments and applications). Interspecies hybridisation. Methods of breeder evaluation.

Readings/Bibliography

- Atlanti CNR, Atlante etnografico delle popolazioni ovine, caprine e bovine, 1983.

- Bittante G., Andrighetto I., Ramanzin M. - Fondamenti di zootecnica, Liviana Ed. 1990.

- Bonetti F. Zoognostica del cane, SanGiorgio Ed., 1995.

- Bourdon R.M. Understanding Animal Breeding, Prentice Hall, 1997.

- Falappi R., Cani, Ist. Geografico de Agostini, 1997.

- Falaschini A. Zootecnia Generale, Edagricole Bologna, 1994.

- Pagnacco G., Genetica Animale applicata, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2004.

- Pirchner F., Population Genetics and animal breeding. Plenum Press, NY and London, 1983.

- Van Vleck L.D., Pollack E.J., Brandford Oltanacu E.A., Genetica per le Scienze Animali, traduzione a cura di R. Leotta, Servizio Editoriale Università di Pisa, 1999.

-Veggetti A, Falaschini A., anatomia fisiologia zoognostica. Edagricole scolastico, 2003.

-Materiale iconografico messo a dismposizione dal docente e tesine su argomenti di etnografia delle diverse specie preparate dagli studenti è disponibile in rete all'indirizzo: http://erclib.vet.unibo.it/jb/ud/falaschini/

Teaching methods

Lectures, seminars, practical activities.

Assessment methods

During the course, the professor will frequently request students to participate in discussions on previously addressed topics necessary for understanding the topic of the day. Halfway through the course students will have the option of taking a non-mandatory written test made up of 6 questions. At the end of the course an oral examination will be given.

Teaching tools

The theoretical part of the course will be conducted in classroomwith the aid of audio-video  systems; the practical part, animal assessment, measurements, etc. will take place in facilities specially equipped to accommodate horses and cattle so that students may also gain an initial physical familiarity with animals. Practical lessons on milking cows will also be given in the Department's teaching-experimental stall.

 

Office hours

See the website of Adalberto Falaschini