Educational guide
IDENTIFYING DATA 2023_24
Subject ANIMAL BREEDING_AND IMPROVEMENT Code 00106028
Study programme
0106 GRADO EN VETERINARIA
Descriptors Credit. Type Year Period
7 Compulsory Third Second
Language
Castellano
Prerequisites
Department PRODUCCION ANIMAL
Coordinador
FUENTE CRESPO , LUIS FERNANDO DE LA
E-mail lffuec@unileon.es
jjarrs@unileon.es
ybayg@unileon.es
bgutg@unileon.es
rpelg@unileon.es
asuav@unileon.es
Lecturers
ARRANZ SANTOS , JUAN JOSÉ
BAYÓN GONZÁLEZ , YOLANDA
FUENTE CRESPO , LUIS FERNANDO DE LA
GUTIÉRREZ GIL , BEATRIZ
PELAYO GARCIA , ROCIO
SUAREZ VEGA, AROA
Web http://
General description This subject offers the knowledge to understand genetic improvement programs in livestock and the systems to reduce lethal factors in populations, as well as selection for disease resistance.
Tribunales de Revisión
Tribunal titular
Cargo Departamento Profesor
Presidente PRODUCCION ANIMAL LOPEZ PUENTE , SECUNDINO
Secretario PRODUCCION ANIMAL MARQUES MARTINEZ , MARIA MARGARITA
Vocal PRODUCCION ANIMAL VALDES SOLIS , CARMEN
Tribunal suplente
Cargo Departamento Profesor
Presidente PRODUCCION ANIMAL GONZALO ABASCAL , CARLOS
Secretario PRODUCCION ANIMAL RANILLA GARCIA , MARIA JOSE
Vocal PRODUCCION ANIMAL GONZALEZ EGUREN , VICENTE

Competencias
Code  
A19613 106P11 Use protocols aimed at modifying and optimizing animal production systems.
A19620 106P18 Develop technical and economic advisory and management tasks for veterinary companies in a context of sustainability.
A19629 106P9 Advise and carry out epidemiological studies and therapeutic and preventive programs in accordance with animal welfare, animal health and public health standards.
A19670 106S46 Genetic applications to improvement and health programs.
A19671 106S47 Reproductive strategies and procedures applied to production.
B6471 106G1 Analyse, synthesise, solve problems and make decisions in the professional fields of the veterinarian.
B6478 106G8 Know how to get professional advice and help.
B6481 106G11 Keep the knowledge, skills and attitudes of professional competencies updated through a continuing education process.
C2 CMECES2 That students know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the development and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
C3 CMECES3 That students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific or ethical nature.
C4 CMECES4 That students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both a specialised and non-specialised audience
C5 CMECES5 That students have developed those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy

Learning aims
Competences
Understand the methods used in animal breeding programs. A19620
 B6478
 C5
To interpret the application of new genetic technologies. A19629
A19670
A19671
 B6481
 C2
To analyse genetic techniques for the prevention of animal diseases A19629
To evaluate the structure and functioning of breeding programmes applied to different animal species. A19613
A19670
 B6471
 C3
C4

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
I.- QUANTITATIVE GENETICS Lecture 1.- Concept, content and programme of the subject. Breeding and health among Veterinary Sciences. Historical development: past, present and future of animal breeding.
Topic 2.- Concept of quantitative genetics. Types of variation. Hereditary basis of continuous variation. Fisher's infinitesimal model.
Lecture 3.- Partitioning of the phenotype. Genetic and environmental effects on productive traits. Models in quantitative genetics. Genotype-environment interaction. Genetic effects: additive, dominant and epistatic value. The breeding value. Environmental effects: permanent and temporary environment.
Lecture 4.- Decomposition of phenotypic variance. Genetic parameters. Decomposition of the genetic variance. Decomposition of the environmental variance.
Lecture 5.- Repeatability. Concept and definition. Repeatability estimation methods. Applications of repeatability. Estimated repeatability values.
Lecture 6.- Heritability. Introduction. Similarity between relatives. Heritability estimation methods. Heritability of productive traits.
Lecture 7.- Genetic correlation. Phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations between traits. Genetic fundamentals: pleiotropy and linkage disequilibrium. Estimation of genetic correlation. Examples for productive trait
II.- BREEDING METHODS Lecture 8.- Individual selection. Concept, objective and selection criteria. Differential and response to selection. Selection pressure and intensity. Factors on which the response to selection depends. Response per unit of time.
Lecture 9.- Correlated response. Indirect selection. The realised response. Duration of the response to selection.
Lecture 10.- Selection methods: classification. Individual selection for a character. Selection by ancestry and descent and collaterals. Family selection. Combined selection. Indirect selection. Selection for several traits.
Lecture 11.- Evaluation of breeders. Introduction. Additive value prediction. Selection indices for one trait. Indices for several traits. Breeding stock evaluation by the BLUP method.
Lecture 12.- Inbreeding. Introduction. Concept of population and breed. Inbreeding in the individual. Inbreeding in livestock populations.
Lecture 13.- Inbreeding depression. Reproductive methods to increase inbreeding. Management of limited size populations.
Lecture 14.- Crossbreeding. Introduction. The superiority of crossbred animals: hybrid vigour, heterosis and complementarity. Estimation of heterosis. Importance of heterosis in productive traits.
Lecture 15.- Systematic crossbreeding. Other crossbreeding types. Synthetic population. Absorbent crossbreeding. Hybridisation in animal production. Selection for combinatorial aptitude.
III.- GENOMICS IN ANIMAL BREEDING Lecture 16.- Genomics: definition, importance, objectives. Structural genomics. Functional genomics. Current status of genomics in domestic animals.
Lecture 17.- Genetic markers. Use in the clinical practice. Blood groups. Biochemical polymorphisms. DNA markers. Markers used in domestic animals.
Lecture 18.- Usefulness of genomic techniques in animal breeding (I). Molecular diagnosis. Chromosomal localisation of monogenic traits. Parentage and identity control. Molecular traceability. Assignment of anonymous samples. Embryo sexing.
Lecture 19.- Usefulness of genomic techniques in animal breeding (II). Detection of QTLs. Concept. Methodology for the detection of QTLs. Experimental designs, markers and statistical methods. Examples of QTLs in domestic species.
Lecture 20.- Usefulness of genomic techniques in animal breeding (III). Use of markers in selection: marker-assisted selection. Gene-assisted selection. Genomic selection.
Lecture 21.- Functional genomics. Annotation of genes in genomic sequences. Techniques for the study of gene function.
IV.- GENETIC CONTROL OF ANIMAL DISEASES Lecture 22.- Methods for detecting carriers of hereditary diseases. Progeny tests. Biochemical tests. Genetic tests. Predisposition to diseases.
Lecture 23.- Genetic counselling and advice. Genetic heterogeneity. Quantification of the risk of suffering diseases. Risk qualification.
Lecture 24.- Hosts and pathogenic agents. Host-agent interactions. Genetic resistance to disease in hosts. Resistance of pathogens to treatment. Resistance factors in pathogens.
Lecture 25.- Genetic methods of control of intermediate hosts. Sterile insect release method. Genetic and environmental control of hereditary diseases. Environmental control methods. Genetic control methods.
V.- TECHNOLOGY OF LIVESTOCK BREEDING Lecture 26.- Animal breeding programmes. Characteristics and types. European and national regulations. Catalogue of livestock breeds in Spain. Herd books. Selection programmes.
Lecture 27.- Conservation of animal genetic resources. Introduction. Endangered breeds. Conservation programmes.
Lecture 28- Genetic improvement of milk production. Lactation curve. Fleischmann method and standardisation. Control systems. Milk quality. Environmental factors and genetic parameters.
Lecture 29.- Dairy cattle breeding. Traits under selection: yield, quality and milk type. Reproductive traits. National programmes: Organisation of national programmes: improvement by immigration and selection. MOET nuclei.
Lecture 30.- Selection schemes for the Holstein breed. Selection of the Brown Swiss breed. International genetic evaluation. Directed mating. Breeding programme for future dairy cows.
Lecture 31- Dairy sheep breeding and goats breeding. Traits under selection. Population structure. Pyramidal selection scheme. Organisation of the breeding programmes. Situation in Spanish breeds.
Lecture 32.- Beef cattle breeding. Traits involved in the selection objective and their genetic determination. Organisation. Breeding strategies by selection and crossbreeding. Evaluation of sires. Situation in Spanish breeds.
Lecture 33.- Meat sheep breeding. Objectives of the improvement. Traits involved. Environmental and genetic factors. Productive structure and crossbreeding. Crossbreeding in sheep production.
Lecture 34.- Pig breeding. Organisation of pig production. Selection: evaluation of breeding stock for the different productive traits. Pig hybridisation: peculiarities and choice of strains. Multiplication of hybrids.
Lecture 35.- Rabbit breeding. Introduction. Genetic determination of productive traits. Selection and maintenance of strains. Multiplication of hybrids.
Lecture 36.- Poultry breeding. Organisation of broilers and layers production. Selection of poultry strains. Hybrids in poultry farming. Types of commercial hybrids. Problems and future.
Lecture 37.- Horse breeding. Traits involved. Genetic and environmental parameters. Selection criteria and crossbreeding in horses.
Lecture 38.- Breeding in other species and productions. Fish breeding. Dog breeding. Fur animals breeding. Honeu bees breeding.
PRACTICALS PROGRAMME Practicals: Laboratories
Session A. Pedigree control in domestic animals using DNA techniques (first part).
Type of practice: Laboratory (B3)

Practicals: PBL and Seminars
Session B. Pedigree control in domestic animals using DNA techniques, paternity exclusion estimation (second part).
Type of practice: PBL (B1)
Session C1. Problem-solving in quantitative genetics (s1).
Type of practice: PBL (B3)
Session C2. Problem-solving in quantitative genetics (s2).
Type of practice: PBL (B3)
Session D. Practical cases on the control of consanguinity.
Type of practice: PBL (B3)
Session E. Genetic monitoring and risk quantification for genetic diseases.
Type of practice: Seminar (B3)
Session F1. Morphological assessment of dairy cattle and sheep.
Type of practice: PBL (B1)
Session G Interpretation of breeding catalogues.
Type of practice: PBL (B1)
Practicals: Farm
Session F2. Morphological grading of dairy cattle and sheep. Type of practice: Farm (B3)

Practicals: Guided autonomous work
Session I. Practical cases. Actual breeding programmes: Proposal and rules for the elaboration of the work. Type of practice: Seminar (B3)
Session T. Practical cases. Actual breeding programmes: Presentation of work carried out by students.
Type of practice: Seminar (B3)

Practicals: Extramural visits1
Session Y. Visit to the Animal Selection and Reproduction Centre of “Castilla y León”.
Type of practice: External visits (B3)

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Class hours Hours outside the classroom Total hours
Laboratory practicals 4 2 6
 
Problem solving, classroom exercises 12 12 24
Field work/trips 4 4 8
Tutorship of group 2 14 16
Practicals using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in computer rooms 2 2 4
Presentations / expositions 4 4 8
 
Lecture 38 57 95
 
Objective multiple-choice tests 2 2 4
Mixed tests 2 2 4
3 3 6
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies   ::  
  Description
Laboratory practicals Practical sessions in the Department's molecular genetics laboratory.
Problem solving, classroom exercises Sessions to solve practical cases of quantitative genetics.
Field work/trips Visit to the Animal Selection and Reproduction Centre of “Castilla y León”.
Tutorship of group Sessions tutored by the teacher, to plan and develop work on a livestock species improvement programme.
Practicals using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in computer rooms Learning based on multiple-choice questions.
Presentations / expositions Sessions tutored by the teacher to plan and develop work on a livestock species breeding programme.
Lecture Theoretical classes, classroom exposition with the help of visual presentations. Students will be provided with support material on the institutional Moodle educational platform.

Personalized attention
 
Problem solving, classroom exercises
Laboratory practicals
Lecture
Practicals using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in computer rooms
Presentations / expositions
Description
Individual tutorials will be held in person in the lecturer's office and/or through the institutional moodle educational platform, either directly with the lecturer or through the discipline's forums.
A forum will be opened in each of the theoretical blocks.
Group work will also have a tutorial associated with the specific work, through the work tutor.

Assessment
  Description Qualification
Objective multiple-choice tests 30 %
Mixed tests 60 %
 
Other comments and second call

For the written exam, the student may not carry electronic devices that enable fraud or communication, such as mobile phones, tablets, radio transmitters, etc., as well as notes. Failure to comply with the above will result in the withdrawal of the exam and a failing grade (Guidelines for action in cases of plagiarism, copying or fraud in exams or assessment tests. Standing Committee of the Governing Council 29/01/2015. University of León).

Those students who do not pass the subject in the ordinary call will have the option to increase their grade in a new mixed test, which will be carried out during the period of extraordinary call. This new test will make up 70% of the grade, the rest being made up from the previous grades: 20% of the multiple-choice tests and 10% of the completion and presentation of the guided autonomous work.

Sources of information
Access to Recommended Bibliography in the Catalog ULE

Basic Armando Caballero Rua, Genetica cuantitativa, Sintesis, 2017
Nicholas FW, Genética Veterinaria, Zaragoza: Acribia, 1990
Falconer DS, Introducción a la genética cuantitativa, México: Compañía Editorial Continental, 1982
Agustin Blasco, Mejora Genética Animal, Sintesis, 2021

Complementary Nussbaum RL, McInnes RR, Willard HF, Genética en medicina, Barcelona: Elsevier Masson, 2008
Strachan T, Genética molecular humana, Barcelona: Omega, 1999
Young LD, Genetics of swine, Nebraska: Technical Committee of the North Central Regional Research Project NC-103, 1990
E. Verrier, D. Milan, C.Rogel-Gaillard, cord., Génétique des animaux d'élevage, Ed. Quae, 2020
Owling AT, Horse genetics, Wallingford: CAB International, 1996
Balsega M, Blasco A, La mejora genética del conejo de carne, Madrid: Mundi-Prensa, 1989
Orozco F, Mejora genética avícola, Madrid: Mundi-Prensa, 1991
López-Fajul C, Toro MA, Mejora genética de peces y moluscos, Madrid: Mundi-Prensa, 1990


Recommendations


Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before
GENETICS / 00106014
BIOSTATISTICS AND EPIDEMIOLOGY / 00106015
 
Other comments
There are no specific prerequisites. It is recommended that students have basic computer skills at user level.