208-259 Animal Science II

208-157 Animal Science I

To enable students to:

• identify the quality of farm animal feed components;

• determine feeding strategies and ration formulations for the maintenance and production of farm animals;

• determine and evaluate the economics of special purpose feeding systems;

• identify healthy farm animals and evaluate the production and economic losses that may occur through animal disease;

• identify diseases commonly affecting farm animals and select suitable prevention and control measures that may be adopted for the disease;

• describe the structure of genes and demonstrate an understanding of their functions;

• discuss the range of genetic evaluation programs and their use in breeding systems; and

• evaluate problems relating to reproductive performance of grazing and housed animals, selection methods and achieving genetic gain, setting breeding objectives and aiming to achieve these objectives.

This subject will also cover:

• performance criteria - the principles involved in developing a program for genetic improvement in an animal enterprise;

• performance recording schemes and the use of these to aid selection;

• selection of animals visually and using performance records; and

• advanced reproductive techniques.

One 2.5-hour written examination (40%) and two assignments equivalent to 3000 words (30% each).