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Animal Breeding and Breeding Plans

Course developer

Prior knowledge

LauZ2109, Agronomy Experiment Design

LauZ4244, Animal Breeding and Breeding Plans

Course abstract

For development of course work, students are using different trait measurements from farm animals in specific animal farm. Student choses and aligns with the projects supervisor the species and animal herd. The size of herd should be big enough for the analysis of phenotypic and genetic parameters and for prediction of direct and indirect selection efficiency or sire breeding evaluation for analysed animals. At the end of Course work make conclusions and give recommendations.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

After the development of course work students will have:
Knowledge about the role of analysed productive traits included in breeding and selection for the development of breeding programs.
Skills to develop review and analysis of scientific literature, describe and analyse the results about farm animal productivity traits and their relationships. Students are skilled to evaluate effect of different factors on animal productivity traits and also determine animal breeding value and predict efficiency of selection in next generation.
Students are competent to study scientific literature and conduct analysis of necessary research results for bachelor thesis. Take part in scientific research and give recommendations in farms for improvement of selection work. The project should be written and formed according to faculties rules and defended publicly.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. The choice and coordination of topic for course work. Formulation of introduction, aim and tasks. 2h.
2. Choosing the literature, preparation of literature review. 2h.
3. Preparation of literature review (5 – 7 pages). 4h.
4. Characterization of studied farm and material used in analysis. 2h.
5. Characterization of used methods, including methods for data analysis. 2h
6. Acquirement of data and development of database. 2h.
7. Development of database. 4h.
8. Analysis and compilation of results (chapters are structured accordingly with projects tasks). 4h.
9. Compilation of results and preparation of discussion. 4h.
10. Development of conclusions and recommendations. 1h.
11. Preparation of bibliography. 1h.
12. Arrangement of Course work (development of annexes with data origins and data analysis). 2h.
13. Preparation of presentation. Public defence of course work. 2h.

Requirements for awarding credit points

Course work designed and done according to requirements Faculty of Agriculture rules. Presentation of course work results and conclusions theoretical knowledge in course work presentation.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Students individually studies scientific and popular scientific literature, prepares review, processes and analyses data, makes conclusions about obtained results. The supervisor should be consulted on any unclear issues.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The positive evaluation on course work is given if the volume of paper is at least 15 pages. Paper should include all 3 main parts of research. Literature review should not take more than 30% of project. For the preparation of project should be used at least 15 sources of information. Course work should be written accordingly with LLU Faculty of Agriculture rules for preparation od papers. Prepared presentation must be publically defended (up to 15 minutes) with the audience of course mates. Audience also takes part into evaluation of presentation (content of presentation, quality of literature, design of presentation, presentation skills and given answers to questions after presentation). Course work is evaluated in 10 point scale. Grade is calculated with the 70% of supervisors evaluation (quality and accuracy of paper) and 30% of course mate average evaluation scores.

Compulsory reading

1. Zinātniskie žurnāli un rakstu krājumi, kas pieejami LLU FB abonētajās datu bāzēs latviešu un citās valodās. Piemēram:
• LF Zinātniski praktiskās konferences "Līdzsvarota lauksaimniecība" raksti;
• LLU LF Zinātniskā semināra rakstu krājums “Ražas svētki Vecaucē ….”
2. LLU mācībspēku un zinātnieku publikācijas starptautiskos žurnālos un konferenču rakstu krājumos:
• LLU doktorantu zinātniskās konferences "Research for Rural Development" raksti
• Agronomy Research.
• International Scientific Conference “Engineering for Rural Development”.

Further reading

1. Studiju darbu izpilde un noformējums.Metodiskie norādījumu LF studentiem. Sastādījuši Kārkliņš A., Kreišmane Dz. (2016). LLU, 72 lpp.
2. Demonstrējumi augkopībā un lopkopībā. Ozolnieki. LLKC. Apgāds

Periodicals and other sources

1. Agro Tops. Rīga: Aģentūra Agro apgāds. ISSN 1407-5164
2. Saimnieks LV. Rīga: TEE BIO, 2004. ISSN 1691-1598
3. Latvijas lopkopis. Ozolnieki. LLKC. Apgāds.
4. Interneta resursi.

Notes

For study program Professional Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, qualification Zootechnics in Breeding