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HFA303 Biological Consequences of Selection in Animal Breeding

Credits (ECTS):5

Course responsible:Elise Norberg

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk, engelsk

Limits of class size:The course is only given if 10 or more students register.

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:125 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in Autumn parallel

About this course

This course deals with how breeding and selection affect the biology of farm animals. We begin by elucidating natural selection and the costs of domestication, as well as discussing the ethical framework for livestock breeding. An introduction to genetic coding and strategies for growth and development, genetic size scaling and resource allocation will be given. The course deals with the physiological consequences of selection, both in terms of production traits, feed utilization and product quality. The course will deal with how selection affects functional characteristics such as fertility, health, longevity, maternal traits and behaviour. Furthermore, interactions between genetics and environment (GxE), epigenetics and the use of genomic tools and gene editing are included.

Learning outcome

The student will be able to evaluate and ethical consequences of selection, and to analyse ethical and animal welfare problems concerning livestock breeding. The student will learn to describe and analyse the animal as a self-regulating biological system with developmental and coping strategies developed through natural evolution and subsequent adaptation to a production environment.

Students will be familiar with examples of how domestic animal breeding have resulted in partial disruption of this biological system, and consequences of this including on animal welfare. Students will be able to analyse these examples and reflect on how different domestic animal breeds and species can be compared.

The students will understand the following concepts will be explained: fitness, resource allocation, maternal effects, epigenetics, development strategies etc. The most important traits and general trends in domestic breeding will be understood. Students will understand how to compare breeds and species of livestock. The student must have insight in ethical and biological aspects of breeding and be able to contribute in discussions in this field.

  • Lectures with discussions. Independent studies. Developing and holding seminar presentation.
  • Personal teacher support will be provided if desired.
  • HFA200 or the equivalent.
  • Oral examination.

    Oral exam Grading: Letter grades Permitted aids: A1 No calculator, no other aids
  • An examiner assesses the oral examination. Individual examination result.
  • Presentation of report
  • 13 lectures with some exercises lasting 2 hours. Mandatory semester presentations.
  • Animal Science.
  • -100% overlap with NOVA-302
  • Special requirements in Science