Central Luzon State University

College of Agriculture
Department of Animal Science

Instructional Module for the Course

Animal Science 1100 Laboratory - Introduction to Animal Science

Module 7
Topic 7 GENETIC IMPROVEMENT AND ANIMAL
PERFORMANCE

Overview

Genetics is a science that deals with heredity and variations. On the other
hand, animal breeding is the application of the different principles in animal
genetics. It is necessary in order to understand how different theories of
inheritance and variation work specifically among farm animals. Knowledge
of breeding or mating systems is important because producers can use
mating systems to preserve genetic superiority and utilize hybrid vigor,
resulting to improved animal performance. Genetic improvement can be
optimized in most herds and flocks by utilizing a combination of selection
and mating systems.

I. Objectives

At the end of the exercise, students are expected to:

1. be familiarized with the breeding systems commonly applied in

farm animals; and

2. be able to evaluate the performance of animals for selection.

II. Learning Activities

Methodology
 1. Identify the breeding systems applied in farm animals.

2. Compute for the selection index of the animals using the

performance data provided for.

Principles of Animal Breeding

Animal breeding is the science that deals with the application of various
animal genetic principles purposely to improve or enhance the performance of
livestock and poultry species.

Animal breeding is an art and science of the genetic improvement of farm

animals.

Genetic Improvement is the purposeful manipulation of the genetic constitution

of animals which determines the expression of their inherent characters.

Objective of Animal Breeding

1. Improve the quantity of production of farm animals and their products

per unit of time.
2. Improve the efficiency of production of farm animals and their
products.
3. Improve the quality of farm animals and their products
4. Improve the aesthetic value of farm animals and their products.

Selection is the process in which certain individuals in a population are preferred

to others for the production of the next generation. Selection can be done for a
single trait and also for more than one character. It can be done for (when in
favor) or against (when not in favor) to a specific trait, whether it is dominant,
recessive, or epistatic in nature. Progress made in any selection program over a
period of time is known as genetic reach (or loss) in case some failures and this
is affected by heritability of the traits, generation interval of animals involved and
the amount of selection pressures applied in the process.

Process of Selection

1. Natural
2. Artificial

Natural forces favor the survival of the most fitted individuals just like those
indigenous animals in certain areas.

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Artificial is the application of human intervention to improve existing breeds and
strains.

Note: Selection does not create new genes but rather it increases the frequency
of desirable genes and conversely it decreases and eventually eliminates the
undesirable ones.

SELECTION METHODS

1.TANDEM- genetic progress is aimed over a group of 2 or 3 traits one

at a time

2. INDEPENDENT CULLING – each trait should meet a certain

standard set for the purpose, if 1 trait among 3 traits does
not meet the std. then animal is rejected.

3. SELECTION INDEX – most applicable when selecting for more than

1 quantitative trait simultaneously with their correspond-
ing importance or weights. The higher the index the
better performance we expect.

Example: Performance Basis for Selection of Pig

a. Growth rate
b. Feed efficiency
c. Carcass quality
d. Good fertility and prolificacy
e. Mothering ability

Breeding System/Mating Schemes

Mating system are tools that aid in animal practitioners in the development of
new breeds, strains and lines of animal species. They can be utilized to further
improve existing breeds or strains, for the development of the poultry and
livestock sector.

Commonly Used Breeding/Mating System

1. Inbreeding
2. Line breeding

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 3. Cross breeding
4. Outcrossing/Purebreeding

1. Inbreeding is the mating of closely related animals

Possible Uses of Inbreeding

f. Maybe used to determine the true genetic worth of animal

g. Can be used to select against a recessive gene present in
population of animals
h. Can be used only in the production of seed stock
i. It can be used to develop line that can be used for crossing purposes
j. Can be used to determine the types of gene action that affect
various economic traits.

2. Line Breeding is a mild form of inbreeding or (usually male) or one line

of ancestor in the line bred individuals. It should be used only in a
purebred population of a high degree of excellence.

3. Crossbreeding is the mating of animals of two or more different breeds.

Systems of Crossbreeding

3.1 Two-way cross – two different animals are used to produced a

crossbreed progeny

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 Source: https://www.mapleleaffoods.jp/en/our-pigs/hog-profile-lwd-3-way-cross-pork

3.2 Backcross is the continuation of two breed cross where F1 female

are kept for breeding and are mated from unrelated males from one
or the other of the two original purebred used in the two breed

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Page 6 of 19
Page 7 of 19
 x
100% Anglo Nubian Doe 100% Anglo Nubian Buck

3.4 Four-way cross or hybridization is the mating of four different

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 breeds

A(100) x B(100) C(100) x D(100)

AB(50%A:50%B) x CD(50%C:50%D)

ABCD (25%A: 25%B: 25%C: 25%D)

4. Outcrossing/purebreeding is the mating of unrelated individuals within the

same breed

100% Anglo Nubian Kid

Mating goats of the same breed unless one or more of the parents selected is
superior, and is mated to pass on a reasonably heritable trait.

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Page 10 of 19
Other Types of Outcrossing

Upgrading or grading up is a type of mating system used to increase the exotic

bloodline usually a native breed. It is the gradual improvement of a breed through
repeated mating of the local breed with an improved sire.

Advantage of Using Upgrading

Source: SRC cost and benefit analysis of using upgrading

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 Animal Biotechnology

Artificial insemination (AI)

 the introduction of male reproductive cells into the female reproducti ve
tract by an artificial means

 considered the most useful and applicable strategy of increasing the

genetically superior genes from proven sires and dam

Embryo Transfer Technology

 a technique used in animal breeding in which an embryo from a
superovulated female animal is transferred to the uterus of a recipient
female animal.

 allows top quality female livestock to have a greater influence on the

genetic advancement of a herd or flock in much the same ways that
artificial insemination has allowed greater use of superior si res

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Genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology

 techniques to construct new combinations of DNA molecules that do not

exist naturally

a. Splitting of DNA –split chemically by enzymes

b. Splicing – isolation of gene fragment from one organism

c. Recombinant DNA – new hybrid molecule called recombinant DNA

inserted
into an organism ( change in the organisms physical
traits)

d. Gene cloning – using somatic cell nuclear transfer, livestock breeders can
create an exact genetic copy of an existing animal essentially
an identical twin. Cloning does not manipulate the animal’s
genetic makeup nor change an animal’s DNA: it is simply
another form of sophisticated assisted reproduction. specific
genes to produce specific products

Common terminologies on breeding and giving birth of farm animals

Serving Act of breeding in cattle
Calving Act of giving birth in cattle
Tupping Act of breeding in sheep
Lambing Act of giving birth in sheep
Coupling Act of breeding in swine
Farrowing Act of giving birth in swine
Mating Act of breeding in chicken
Laying/hatching Act of giving birth in chicken
Serving Act of breeding in goats
Kidding Act of giving birth in goats

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Page 14 of 19
4 Assessment

Figure 1. Diagram of the breeding scheme(s) applied in a Goat Project

Purebreeding

Three-Way Cross

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 Grading up/Up grading

Figure 2. Diagram of the breeding scheme(s) applied in a Swine Project

75%Landrace: 25%Large White

50% Duroc: 50% Pietrain x

Crossbreed Pigs

Figure 3. Breeding scheme(s) that can be used in a Dairy Project

x 100% Brazillian MurrahBuffalo

100% Brazillian Murrah Buffalo Carabull
Caracow

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 100% Brazillian Murrah Buffalo
Caracalf

1. Compute the selection index of the different animals. Based on the selection
index, identify and rank the best animal to be selected. Show your solution.

Table 1.
Feed Backfat
Animal Ave. Daily Selection
Conversion Thickness Rank
ID Gain (kg) Index1
Efficiency (cm)
00512 0.625 2.75 1.2 141.36 2
00605 0.650 2.80 1.4 137.42 3
00392 0.575 3.00 1.2 123.86 7
00545 0.620 2.95 1.2 130.86 5
00309 0.750 2.70 1.4 152.42 1
00655 0.570 3.10 1.8 106.54 10
00789 0.600 2.95 1.4 124.92 6
00559 0.613 2.86 1.3 132.69 4
00605 0.581 3.10 1.2 119.46 9
00505 0.690 3.00 1.8 123.54 8

1SI = 240 + 100 X1 – 50 X2 – 19.7 X3

Assume: X1, X2, X3 are the average daily gain, feed conversión efficiency and backfat thickness
2. Illustrate the diagram of breeding 100% Anglo Nubian buck to Upgraded Doe
with 75% Anglo Nubian and 25% Native bloodline. What will be the bloodline
of the offspring produced.

100% Anglo Nubian buck x 75% Anglo Nubian Doe

50% Anglo Nubian buck: 25% Native Bloodline

x
37.5% Anglo Nubian Doe

25% Anglo Nubian Buck

18.75% Anglo Nubian Doe
12.5% Native Bloodline
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 3. Illustrate the diagram of breeding 100% Duroc boar to crossbreed sow
having 75%Landrace: 25%Large White bloodline. What will be the bloodline
of the piglets produced.

100% Duroc Boar 75% Landrace : 25% Large white bloodline

x

50% Duroc : 37.5% Landrace: 12.5% Large white

Questions to Answer

4. What is/are the difference(s) between crossbreeding and upgrading?

Crossbreeding is mating of two different common breed but upgrading is

mating between a rare breen and a common breed or breeding between two
rare breed.

5. What are the roles of animal biotechnology in the improvement of animal

genetics?

Animal genetics and productivity are improved using a variety of

biotechnological techniques. It can help animals develop healthily, guard
against potentially fatal diseases, supply more animal breeds than we
generally encounter, and improve the caliber of animal products.

6. Are you in favor of human cloning? Why?

A part of me supports it, but another part of me disagrees. According to

my research, human cloning can be used as a remedy for or repairing
injured nerve cells as well as other health purposes. But I’m scared it
might be a problem for human species or worse in our universe.

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SOLUTIONS:

5 References
https://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/legacy/bioorg/docs/Animal_onepager.pdf

Syllabus Manual in AnSci 1100. Principles of Animal Science 4th Edition. 2007.
Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Central Luzon State
University.

Small Ruminant Center Presentation on Breeding and Reproduction (2019)

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