General Zootechnics and Genetic Improvement

The course aims to provide the principles of genetics applied to domestic animals. Aspects related to mendelian, population and quantitative genetics will be discussed. The topics related to molecular genetics will be developed with specific application to diagnostics applied to livestock production and genomic selection. The course also provides the principles of genetic improvement applied to livestock production pinpointing to the molecular genetics and genomics tools available today in livestock breeding. Information on ongoing selection programs in the main livestock populations of the national territory will be provided. The principles of bioethics applied to animal production will also be treated, with specific reference to the genomic and reproductive technologies available today in domestic animals.

Students will be able to implement a genetic improvement program in a dairy cattle farm using the tools available online for the choice of bulls. They will also have acquired the basic principle for a critical discussion on aspects related to animal breeding and farming.