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Animal breeding and selection

Course developers

Course abstract

The course aims are to provide students with deep knowledge and skills in animal breeding and selection. The course include the following topics: Interpretation of Quantitative Trait Loci in Domestic Animals; Single-Locus and Multi-Locus genome-Wide Association; Purebreeding and crossbreeding; Relationship and inbreeding; Quantitative trait loci (QTL); Genotype and environmental interaction; Breeding value estimation; Genetic markers, their use in selection; Optimization of breeding programs.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

• Knowledge: knowledge and understandings about the pure and hybridization breeding plans, use of quantitative and molecular genetics and their application in doctoral research related to animal breeding. Knowledge is evaluated according to the results of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd seminar and exam.
• Skills: estimate and predict breeding values or do genetic analysis for specific species of farm animals. Able to conduct an original research and prepare an international publication. Skills are assessed according to the presentations given at the seminars, discussion during the seminars and answers at the exam.
• Competence: explain and discuss about research results, to formulate research hypothesis and solve it. Competencies are assessed on the basis of knowledge and discussion skills provided in seminars and exams.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Animal breeding and genetic - historical perspectives. 2h
2. Quantitative and molecular genetic methods in animal husbandry. Selection for quantitative and qualitative traits. 2h
3. Genetic models of quantitative traits. Heritability and repeatability of quantitative traits Distribution of genetic variance. Additive genetic effect and heritability. 4h
4. Sib and half - sib analysis. Heritability estimation by GLM. Variance components. 2h
5. Variance and covariance of actual relationships between relatives 2h.
Seminar 1: Quantitative traits, evaluation of their heritability and repeatability by mathematical statistical methods.
6. Mating strategies. Random and assortative mating. Purebreeding and crossbreeding. Inbreeding, outbreeding, relationship. Inbreeding depression. 2h
7. The nature and identification of quantitative trait loci 2h
8. The Principle: Identification and Application of Molecular Markers. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in genome-wide association. 4h
9. Gender differences in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Gender dimorphism. 2h
Seminar 2: Mating strategies, QTL, genetic markers and its use in selection.
10. Breeding value estimation. Selection index. BLUP “animal model", repeatability model, test day model. 4h.
11. Genome-wide selection. 2h
12. Design of breeding programs. Purebreeding programs. Crossbreeding programs. Use of crossbreeding programs in Livestock. Genetic resources programs. 4h
Seminar 3: breeding value estimation, mating and selection, a response to selection

Requirements for awarding credit points

The PhD student prepares three presentations and participates in discussions on a previously assigned topic, receiving an evaluation for each seminar.
Oral examination at the commission.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Preparation for three seminars and discussions related to the thematic PhD thesis.
Lectures have been prepared for master students studying for a master's degree in animal husbandry on the topics included in the course program.
Study of scientific literature on the topic of the course.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The PhD student who has successfully participated and obtained at least 6 points (on a 10-point scale) in seminars can take the exam.
The exam consists of 3 questions.
Evaluation depends on:
1) answer to questions - based on scientific research;
2) the use of professional and scientific terminology;
3) answers to additional questions asked by the commission.
Exam evaluation depends on the cumulative assessment: Presentations at seminars – 30%, exam – 70%.

Compulsory reading

Bourdon R. M. Understanding Animal Breeding. Pearson: New International Edition. USA: Pearson education limited, 2014. 513 p. ISBN 978-1-292-04003-5. (Dzīvnieku zinātņu inst.)
Falconer, D.S. Mackay, T.F.C. Indroduction to Quantitative Genetics. Fourth Edition. Edinburgh: Longman Limited, 1996. 464 p. ISBN 13: 9780582243026
ISBN 10: 0582243025.
Khatib H. (ed.) Molecular and Quantitative Animal Genetics. Wiley-Blackwell, 2015. 336 p. ISBN 978-1-118-67740-7. (Dzīvnieku zinātņu inst.)
Mrode A.R., Thompson R. Linear Models for the Prediction of Animal Breeding Values. 3rd Edition. CAB International, 2014. 343 p. ISBN-13: 978-1845939816; ISBN-10: 1845939816.

Further reading

Achieving sustainable production of milk. Volume 1: Milk composition, genetics and breeding. Edited by Dr. Nico van Belzen. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited: 2017. 339 p. ISBN 978-1-78676-044-9. (Dzīvnieku zinātņu inst.)

Periodicals and other sources

Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics. Wiley. Online ISSN: 1439-0388.
Journal of Dairy Science. Published by American Dairy Science Association. ISSN (print): 0022-0302. ISSN (online): 1525-3198. [Online] [Viewed 18.03.2019.]. https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/
Pieejams datu bāzē arī Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-dairy-science
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology. ISSN: 2049-1891. Pieejams: https://jasbsci.biomedcentral.com/
Zinātniskie žurnāli un rakstu krājumi, kas pieejami LLU FB abonētajās datu bāzēs, piemēram:
Rural Sustainability Research (LLU Raksti),
Research for Rural Development
Zinātniski praktiskās konferences "Līdzsvarota lauksaimniecība" raksti: http://llufb.llu.lv

Notes

There is no prerequisite knowledge required for this course