Biotechnology and Related Technologies in Animal Production

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts in biotechnology and animal production as discussed in the lecture notes, focusing on techniques, advantages, challenges, and facility requirements.

What is Biotechnology?

Any technique that uses whole or part of a living thing to make new products or improve/develop plants, animals, and other organisms for specific use.

List the areas of animal biotechnology influenced by biotechnology advances.

Agricultural biotechnology, Fisheries biotechnology, Microbial biotechnology, Environmental biotechnology, Industrial biotechnology.

What are some examples of modern breeding techniques mentioned in animal biotechnology?

Artificial insemination (AI), Embryo transfer (ET), In Vitro fertilization (IVF), Cloning.

What is Artificial Insemination (AI)?

A method where semen is collected from a male animal and inseminated into the uterus of female animals with desirable traits.

What was a significant advancement in AI technology in 1953?

The birth of the first calf from frozen semen.

What are some advantages of Artificial Insemination?

Allows use of superior male animals, achieves genetic improvement efficiently, controls diseases, enables long-distance transportation and use of semen, enhances farm safety.

What are some limitations of Artificial Insemination?

Requires trained specialists, may have lower conception rates than natural mating, risks disease transmission by technicians, and can increase inbreeding.

What is semen sexing?

A process that separates semen by sex, allowing for control of offspring gender during AI or embryo transfer.

Describe the process of Embryo Transfer.

Transferring growing embryos into a surrogate female who carries the embryo to term.

What is the significance of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in animal biotechnology?

Enables the production of large quantities of embryos at low cost and facilitates selective breeding.

Define 'cloning' in the context of animal biotechnology.

Creating an exact genetic copy of an organism.

What are the main challenges in animal biotechnology?

Selecting better animals based on high productivity, improving reproduction, achieving genetic improvements in short duration, and ensuring health improvements.

Discuss the importance of housing facilities in animal production.

Facilities are crucial for management, animal health, and efficient production, prioritizing operator comfort and safety.

What types of flooring materials are used in animal housing?

Solid, slatted concrete, litter layer, and slat-litter.

Explain the different types of poultry housing.

Brooder houses, grower houses, hatcheries, layer houses, isolation houses, and breeding houses.

What are the essential factors for good poultry housing?

Comfort for birds and caretaker, durability, ease of cleaning, security, and suitability for weather conditions.