Learn to manage animal breeding across a range of domestic animals.

Animal breeding can be undertaken on any level, from a part time hobby or part-time business (e.g. breeding and selling pets), through to a very serious and highly sophisticated profession (such as the breeding of racehorses). A science based course, animal breeding online, goes into genetics, artificial and natural selection, cross breeding and artificial insemination (there is also a specific course on artificial insemination available). This course provides a great introductory point whatever level you eventually plan to work with.

Benefits:

• 100 hours
• Online and self-paced
• 12 months to complete
• Printed Notes Available
• Get expert tutor support from practicing Australian Vets.

Course Aims:

• Explain genetic influence on the characteristics exhibited by animals.
• Explain the factors that interact with genes to produce nonconformity in animals.
• Develop procedures to select animals for a breeding program.
• Develop an animal straight breeding program.
• Develop an animal cross breeding program.
• Explain the commercial methods used to breed farm animals.

There are 7 Lessons in this Course:

1. Introduction to Genetics

• • Plant cells
  • Animal cells
  • Cell division – mitosis (asexual reproduction); meiosis (sexual reproduction)
  • Genes – phenotype and genotype; homogenous and heterogenous
  • Terminology
  • The work of Mendel
  • Sex determination

2. Genetics

• • Gene mutations
  • Lethal genes
  • Effect of the environment
  • Hybrid vigour
  • Genetics in agriculture
  • Heritability

3. Selection

• • Animal breeding programs
  • Agriculture
  • Decide on your priorities
  • Dual purpose animals
  • Artificial selection
  • Gene groups
  • Regression
  • Domestic animals – Dogs, cats etc.

4. Pure Breeding

• • Inbreeding – close breeding and line breeding
  • Genetic effects of inbreeding
  • Advantages and disadvantages

5. Introduction to Cross Breeding

• • The effects of cross breeding in farm animals
  • Genetic effects, phenotype effects, heterosis, and genotype effect
  • Cross breeding in sheep
  • Cross breeding in domestic animals

6. Cross Breeding

• • Practical cross breeding
  • Two breed or single cross
  • Back cross or crisscrossing
  • Cyclical crossing
  • Rotational crossing
  • Advantages of cross breeding
  • Reciprocal recurrent selection
  • Breed societies
  • Grading up

7. Livestock Improvement

• • Performance Testing
  • Sib Testing
  • Progeny testing
  • Relative breeding Values (RBV)
  • Artificial insemination
  • Synchronized heats
  • Ova transplants