ABP

What are sheep and goats used for?

Sheep are mainly used for meat, milk, and wool. Goats are used for milk and meat, and sometimes for hair (cashmere, mohair), skin, and transport.

What is the biological mechanism of seasonality in sheep and goats?

Reproduction is controlled by photoperiodism—hormonal responses to changes in daylight. Most breeds in temperate climates are seasonally polyestrous, breeding in response to shorter days.

How does seasonality affect production?

It determines specific breeding and lambing/kidding periods, which influence milk yield, kid/lamb availability, and overall scheduling of farm activities.

What are signs of estrous behavior?

Restlessness, mounting, vaginal discharge, decreased appetite, and increased vocalization. Heat duration is ~35 hours in sheep and ~18 hours in goats.

What are the different breeding seasons?

Typically autumn mating with winter or early spring births. Some systems allow for winter or even year-round breeding depending on breed and management.

How do we prepare animals for mating?

Hoof trimming, teeth check, body condition scoring, deworming, flushing (nutritional boost), and reproductive exams for both males and females.

What is involved in health and protection of the animals?

Parasite control, vaccination, reproductive health checks, facility sanitation, and biosecurity measures to prevent disease introduction.

What are teaser rams used for?

To induce and synchronize estrus in females using the "ram effect" without actual mating.

What is the management of newborns?

Drying and warming, disinfecting umbilical cords, ensuring colostrum intake, bonding, tagging or marking, and deciding their production purpose (breeding or fattening).

What is the drying period and what do we do during it?

It is the time before the next birth when milking is stopped to allow udder recovery. Feeding is reduced and milking frequency is gradually decreased.

How do we dry off ewes or does?

Reduce milking gradually, cut back on feed and water, and stop milking completely when udder pressure increases slightly.

Why do we dock sheep tails?

To improve hygiene, reduce flystrike risk, ease milking and lambing, and prevent fecal buildup.

What is the milking protocol?

Wash hands and udder, inspect for mastitis, milk (by hand or machine), and dip teats afterward for disinfection.

What breeds are used for meat, milk, and wool?

Meat: Boer goat, Texel sheep

Milk: Saanen goat, Lacaune sheep

Wool: Merino sheep, Angora goat (mohair), Cashmere goat

What is the herd health program?

A structured plan for maintaining flock health and productivity, covering nutrition, reproduction, vaccination, parasite control, and monitoring.

What is biosecurity and how do we achieve it?

Biosecurity prevents disease entry and spread. Achieved by quarantining new animals, using protective clothing, cleaning equipment, and restricting visitor access.

What are the biosecurity risks related to animals?

Risks include new or wild animals, manure, contaminated tools, improper disposal of carcasses, and indirect contact with infected flocks.

What is flock health management?

Daily and long-term monitoring and prevention of disease. Includes parasite control, vaccination, nutrition, handling, and reproductive care.

What are definitions and examples of production systems?

Extensive: pasture-based, low input (e.g. hill sheep farming)

Intensive: housed, high input (e.g. dairy goats in barns)

Semi-intensive: mix of both

What are the most important management practices?

Mating management, feeding, shearing or milking, lamb/kid care, vaccination, and data recording.

What are the similarities and differences among systems?

Similarities: all require health care, reproduction, and newborn care

Differences: in intensity, input, product focus, infrastructure

What is the main production goal in sheep/goat systems?

To produce high-quality meat, milk, or wool depending on the breed and market demands.

What's involved in managing production and herd health?

Regular monitoring, maintaining records, reproductive planning, managing diseases, and ensuring good nutrition and housing.

What is biotechnology (Biotech)?

Biotechnology is the application of biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to modify or create products or processes for specific use.

How is biotechnology used in livestock health management?

It is used to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases through tools like transgenesis, vaccine development, DNA/RNA probes, monoclonal antibodies, and genome analysis.

Why is early diagnosis of disease important in livestock?

It allows for timely treatment, prevents productivity loss, and reduces the risk of disease spreading across borders.

What are some key biotechnology tools used in animal health?

PCR, antibody-based diagnostics, DNA/RNA probes, heat-stable vaccines, and genome sequencing of pathogens.

What is artificial insemination (AI) and why is it important?

AI is the introduction of sperm into the female reproductive tract without mating. It increases genetic progress by using top-quality sires and allows for crossbreeding.

What is embryo transfer (ET)?

A reproductive technology where embryos from a genetically superior female (donor) are transferred to a surrogate (recipient) to carry the pregnancy.

What is MOET (Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer)?

A technique combining superovulation and embryo transfer to maximize the genetic output of superior females.

What are the steps of MOET?

Superovulation using hormones (e.g., FSH or PMSG)

Insemination with high-quality semen

Embryo collection from donor

Synchronization of recipients' estrus

Embryo transfer into recipients

What are the uses of MOET?

Increases offspring from elite females, allows for the export/import of genetics, aids infertile cows, and improves selection intensity.

What is Marker Assisted Selection (MAS)?

A breeding method using genetic markers (like SNPs or RFLPs) to select animals with desired traits more accurately than by phenotype alone.

What are transgenic animals?

Animals that carry foreign DNA in their genome, used to improve traits such as milk yield, growth, disease resistance, or even pharmaceutical production.

What is animal cloning and why is it used?

Producing genetically identical animals, used for conserving elite genetics or producing animals for pharmaceutical research ("pharming").

What are some challenges to using biotechnology in developing countries?

High cost, lack of infrastructure, poor recording systems, need for skilled personnel, and limited public acceptance.

What are the important traits in cattle breeding?

Age at first calving, service period, calving interval, milk yield, milk fat/protein, somatic cell count, weaning weight, slaughter weight, lean carcass, dressing %, body size, temperament, disease resistance, adaptability.

What is a performance test in cattle breeding?

A method to evaluate individual animals under test conditions (growth, carcass traits) or field conditions (daily gain, conformation, fat depth) for genetic improvement.

What is genetic breeding value evaluation?

Estimating the animal's potential to pass traits to offspring, using BLUP, performance data, pedigree, and genomic selection.

What is the animal model in genetics?

A Mixed Model where BV of sires and cows are simultaneously evaluated based on genetic linkages across the population.

What is the total merit index?

A selection index combining milk, meat, fitness, and exterior traits. For example, Simmental: 40:30:30 for milk:meat:fitness.

What is targeted mating?

Planned mating using elite cows and top sires based on genetic potential and performance to improve population traits.

What are the important traits in sheep breeding?

Age at first lambing, prolificacy, litters/year, milk yield, milk composition, weaning/slaughter weight, carcass traits, fleece diameter and weight.

How is breeding value in sheep estimated?

Via daily milk control (AT4/B4), standardized BV values, and traits such as milk quantity, protein/fat %, and somatic cell count.

What are important traits in goat breeding?

Similar to sheep: age at kidding, prolificacy, milk yield and composition, growth and carcass traits, somatic cell count.

How is breeding value in goats estimated?

Using performance tests, field monitoring, milk tests (AT4/B4), and expressing BV in standardized values.

What are important traits in pig breeding?

Litter size, survival, birth/weaning/slaughter weight, daily gain, carcass/meat yield, backfat thickness, mothering ability.

How is breeding value estimated in pigs?

Through field tests, BLUP models, and combining traits into an aggregate genotype (AG) for maternal or terminal breeds.

What are purebred gilts, boars, and F1 crossbred gilts?

Purebred = breeding base. F1 = crossbred for production. Used strategically in commercial breeding pyramids.

What are important traits in horse breeding?

Body conformation, behavior, stamina, gait, strength, temperament, foaling age, adaptability, suitability for sport or recreation.

What are autochthonous breeds?

Local, traditional breeds under conservation programs for genetic diversity.

What are important traits in poultry breeding?

Age at first lay, egg number/size, fertility, conformation, slaughter traits, carcass yield, growth, feather color.

How is BV calculated in poultry?

By industry-led programs evaluating parent and commercial flocks; autochthonous breeds are included in national programs.

What are important traits in dogs and cats breeding?

Body and coat characteristics, temperament, social intelligence, work ability.

How is breeding value estimated in dogs?

Based on pedigree, conformation, medical records (e.g. hip dysplasia), breeding licenses, and competition results.

How is breeding value estimated in cats?

Based on pedigree (no breeding ban), conformation, disease testing, and show titles.

What is selection of breeding stock?

It's the process of choosing males and females to become parents of the next generation, with the aim of improving livestock by enhancing desirable traits and reducing undesirable ones.

What is breeding stock?

A group of selected animals (males and females) used to produce offspring with desirable traits for future generations.

How does selection work in breeding?

Through repeated selection of over-average animals for reproduction, increasing the frequency of desirable genes and decreasing undesirable ones.

What influences the effectiveness of selection?

Heritability of traits, variability of the trait, intensity of selection, and generation interval.

What is heritability (h²)?

The proportion of phenotypic variation in a population that is attributable to genetic variation among individuals.

What is variability of a trait?

The degree to which a trait differs among individuals in a population; greater variability allows for more effective selection.

What is selection differential (SD)?

The difference between the average of selected parents and the average of the entire population for a trait.

What is genetic gain?

The improvement in the average genetic merit of a population for a specific trait over one generation.

What is genetic gain per year?

Genetic gain per generation divided by the generation interval (time between successive generations).

What factors are considered when selecting breeding stock?

Age, level of performance, physical fitness, health, body conformation, temperament, product quality, mothering ability, adaptability, and prolificacy.

What is breeding value (BV)?

An estimate of an animal's genetic worth, predicting the traits it can pass to its offspring.

What is Estimated Breeding Value (EBV)?

A statistical prediction of an animal's genetic value based on phenotype, pedigree, and/or genomic information.

What is a contemporary group?

Animals of the same sex and age class raised in the same environment and management system, used for fair comparison.

What is an indirect comparison in BV estimation?

Comparing animals from different groups by linking them through pedigree information rather than direct comparison.

What are sources of data used to estimate BV?

Phenotype of the animal, its ancestors, relatives, progeny, and genetic tests.

What are the methods of BV estimation?

Pedigree info, phenotype evaluation, progeny testing, family testing, genetic tests, and the BLUP method.

What is the BLUP method?

Best Linear Unbiased Prediction—an advanced statistical method for estimating BV by integrating multiple sources of data.

What is genomic selection?

Estimating breeding value using DNA markers (e.g. SNPs) to enhance accuracy, especially in young animals.

Why is heritability not static?

It varies between populations and environments, depending on how much phenotypic variation is due to genetics.

What does the heritability equation BV = h²(Px - A) represent?

It estimates breeding value from an individual's performance (Px), average population performance (A), and heritability (h²).

What is the repeatability of a trait?

The degree to which repeated measurements of the same trait in the same individual are consistent.

How is repeatability used in selection?

It improves the accuracy of BV estimation when traits can be measured over multiple cycles (e.g. repeated milk yields).

Why is age important in selecting breeding stock?

Younger animals with longer productive lives and fewer parturitions offer more future reproductive potential.

Why is performance level important in selection?

High-performing animals typically carry superior genetic traits that can be passed on to offspring.

What is breeding value used for in practice?

To rank animals and select those most likely to improve the next generation in productivity, health, and conformation.

What is selection of breeding stock?

It's the process of choosing certain animals as parents for the next generation to pass on desirable traits, while removing others from breeding (culling)