HFA303 Biological Consequences of Selection in Animal Breeding

This course deals with how breeding and selection affects the biology of animals. Traditionally animal breeding has been focusing on a limited number of traits, with a large emphasis on production and conformation. This has had a negative effect on the functional traits, such as health and fertility. Robustness, resilience, mother abilities and behavioural traits are other traits which have been affected by selection.

For more information see www.euroleague-study.org/en/r-20338-study-offers/r-20351-summer-schools/r-20946-summer-schools-2025/biological-consequences-of-selection.html

• Evaluate the ethical consequences of selection in animals
• Understand how the process of domestication has changed animals
• Understand how selection has had an impact on several traits, like performance, functional traits, behavior and maternal ability and how environment impacts performance
• Understand the basic principles of animal growth, genetic scaling and development including resource allocation and feed efficiency
• Collaborate and reflect in groups on questions related to topics related to the course
• Reflect and discuss on how to integrate the different elements of the course
• Analyze and present dilemmas related to animal selection