Theory question 101
Animal Improvement and Breeding(a) Explain each of the following mating methods in farm animals: (i) hand mating; (ii) pen mating; (iii) pasture mating. (b)(i) Mention two advantages of each of the mating methods explained in 1(a). (ii) Mention two disadvantages of each of the mating methods explained in 1(a). (c) Mention two methods of collecting semen from a bull.
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(a)(i) Hand mating: the farmer detects a female on heat and brings her to a chosen male (or vice versa) for a controlled mating, then separates them
(ii) Pen mating: a selected male is kept in a pen with a group of females so he mates them as they come on heat
(iii) Pasture (flock) mating: males and females graze and run together freely and any male mates any female on heat
(b)(i) Advantages. Hand mating: sire known so records are accurate; prevents inbreeding and over-use of the male; date of birth can be predicted. Pen mating: less labour; heat is rarely missed; sire of the group known. Pasture mating: very little labour; high conception since no heat is missed; cheap
(ii) Disadvantages. Hand mating: needs skill to detect heat; more labour; heat may be missed. Pen mating: male may be overworked; exact mating dates not known; fighting if more than one male. Pasture mating: sire unknown, records difficult; inbreeding and mating of immature females; fighting among males
(c) Any two: artificial vagina; electro-ejaculator; massage of the ampullae/seminal vesicles through the rectum
Two separate points for each method in (b).