Breeds and Products of Livestock Species

Species and animal breeds are the result of hundreds of years of breeding activity in a wide variety of environmental conditions. The processing techniques of products of animal origin are an excellence of Italy, recognized in the world. This makes available to the consumer food labelled as "protected origin" (PDO mark). The variability of animal genetic resources is an important value for the enhancement of products of animal origin. The course will provide students with the basic tools for analyzing the genetic diversity of animal populations and relating it to the one of their products.

1. Frontal teaching
a) Introduction - Dissemination of animal genetic resources. Cosmopolitan and local breeds and population
b) Molecular data for the characterization of breeds and products of animal origin: structural variability of DNA (e.g. microsatellites, RFLP, SNP, genomic sequences)
c) Data analysis tools publicly available for the genetic characterization of the breeds
d) Similarity and divergence of species and breeds of zootechnical interest: genetic distances
e) Traceability of products, identification of species, breed and individual animal.

2. Practice
a) Browsing of national and European product databases.
b) Calculation of genotypic and gene frequencies at SNPs molecular markers. Calculation of genetic distances
c) Case studies on breeds and products of animal origin - Research information on products of animal origin and their link with breeds and territory. Visit to production farms and processors.
d) Case studies (computer room): analysis of an Italian region or a European nation and its peculiarities in relation to breeds and animal products, the area where animals are raised, processing methods and product quality.