Theory question 108
Animal Improvement(a) What is animal improvement?
(b) Give three aims of animal improvement.
(c) Define each of the following terms as used in animal reproduction: (i) parturition; (ii) gestation period.
(d) Name three systems in the body of farm animals.
(e) Mention four advantages of castration in animal production.
Show the model answer
(a) The process of producing animals with better qualities (higher productivity, resistance, adaptation) than their parents, through breeding, selection and better management.
(b) Any three: higher yield of meat, milk or eggs; fast growth/early maturity; disease and pest resistance; better feed conversion; adaptation to local climate; higher fertility.
(c)(i) Parturition: the act of giving birth to young at the end of pregnancy.
(ii) Gestation period: the length of time from conception (fertilisation) to birth.
(d) Any three: digestive; reproductive; respiratory; circulatory; nervous; excretory; skeletal; muscular.
(e) Any four: prevents unwanted breeding/controls inbreeding; makes animals docile and easy to handle; faster fattening and better meat quality; removes male odour (in goats); allows males and females to be kept together; reduces fighting.
Keep definitions short and exact.