(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 |