Home » Animal Husbandry Theory (a) Define the term animal improvement.   (b) Explain briefly the following terms as used in animal…

Animal Husbandry Theory (a) Define the term animal improvement.   (b) Explain briefly the following terms as used in animal…

(a) Define the term animal improvement.

 

(b) Explain briefly the following terms as used in animal improvement:

  • cross breeding;
  • out-breeding. 

 

(d) Complete the table below:

Farm animal

Name of mature female

Gestation period (days)

Sheep

  ……………………

  ……………………..

Pig

  ……………………

 ……………………..

Rabbit

   ……………………

  ……………………..

Explanation

(a)  Definition of animal improvement:

 It refers to means/techiques of developing/breeding/producing animals of better traits/characters over the existing ones /parents              

OR
It is a means/technique of introduction/selection/breeding of animals with better/outstanding traits/character/genes/allele over the existing ones
                                                                                   
(b)  Explanation of the terms;

Cross breeding;

  • It is the mating of proven quality animals from
  • different breeds but the same species e.g. Muturu  x White Fulani.
  • It leads to production of heterosis/hybrid vigour      

Out breeding;

  • It is the mating of unrelated animals of the same breed
  • It recovers certain traits that may have been lost due to other breeding methods.
  • New traits are introduced in the offspring/young ones

 

(d)       Completion of the table

Farm animal

Name of mature female

Gestation period (days)

Sheep

  Ewe

  140-150

Pig

  Sow

  113-115

Rabbit

   Doe

  28-32