Students:                  BSc Agriculture (Hans) Part III

 Lecturers:                Dr F.N. Mhlanga (Coordinator)
                               Dr S.M. Makuza

 Course Objectives:

This course aims at introducing students to the principles of livestock  improvement through animal breeding and genetics. The course will integrate practical aspects of animal breeding with the underlying   theories of Mendelian genetics, population genetics, quantitatives  genetics and Molecular genetics. The course will give a clear  description and discussion of the various traits of economic importance  in farm animals in which improvement is sought. Methods by which practical changes in livestock performance can be created will be  emphasized. At the end of course, students will have an in-depth  understanding of theories behind improvement of livestock production and will be able to design breed improvement programme.

 Courses Synopsis

-         A review of Mendelian Genetics
-         Introduction to Population Genetics
-         Introduction to Quantitative Genetics
-         Application of genetics to livestock improvement
-         Livestock improvement programs (general)
-         Livestock improvement programs (Zimbabwe)

Time allocation

Lectures                                  -4 hours a week
Practicals                                 -3 hours every week

Course Work Assessmeat:

 1.   Final Exam                                  60%
 2.   Continuous Assessment                40%

Continuous assessment involves tests (mid-semester and finals), unannounced quizzes, homeworks, term essays and practicals.

 Course Content

 Semester 1:                               24 March to 5 July.

 Lectures: 1 - 5:              Mendelian Genetics   Dr S M Makuza

      Mendel's Laws, terminology, allelic relationships,
      Multiple alleles, chromosomal aberrations, lethal genotypes,
      carriers, pleiotropy, epistasis, penetrance sex linkage.

 Lectures: 6 - 9:     Population genetics Dr S M Makuza

      Gene and genotype frequencies, Hard - Weinberg Law, forces
      causing changes in gene and genotype frequencies, relationships
      and inbreeding.

 Lectures: 10 - 19:    Quantitative Genetics   Dr F N Mhlanga

      Introduction to continuous variation, genetic values and
      population means, components of phenotypic  variance, genotype
      x environment interaction, repeatability, genetic covariance,
      environmental covariance, heritability.

 Lectures: 20 - 24:    Prediction of BVs  Dr F N Mhlanga

      Prediction of breeding values (single trait) - information
      used and adjustment for environmental effects.

 Lectures: 25 -- 29:    Selection     Dr F N Mhlanga

      Selection response - prediction and measurement

      Multiple traits - correlated response, economic value
      Selection  methods - tandem, independent culling levels,
      selection index

 Lectures: 30 -- 32:   Breed Improvement Programs  Dr S M Makuza

      Breeding programs - performance testing, progeny testing,
      nucleus breeding schemes, MOET schemes, group breeding scheme,
      breeding schemes suitable for Zimbabwe, Evaluation of breeding programs.

Lectures: 33 - 34:   Mating Systems                Dr F N Mhlanga

     Assortative mating, inbreeding, linebreeding, crossbreeding,
     grading up.

 Lectures: 35 - 36:   Molecular Genetics           Dr F N Mhlanga

    Major genes in livestock improvement
    Molecular genetics in Livestock Improvement
    Types of genetic markers, Isolation of DNA.

 Lectures: 37 - 38:   Small Ruminant Breeding Programs  Dr F Mhlanga

    Sheep and Goat Breeding - the principles, programs in general
    and programs in Zimbabwe.

 Lectures: 39 - 41:   Dairy Cattle Breeding            Dr F N Mhlanpa

    Dairy cattle breeding - the principles, programs in general
    and programs in Zimbabwe.

 Lectures: 42 - 44    Beef Cattle Breeding             Dr S M Makuza

   Beef cattle breeding - as above

 Lectures: 45 - 46:   Pig Breeding           Dr S M Makuza

   Pig Breeding - as above

 Lectures: 47 - 48:  Poultry & Ostrich Breeding  Dr F N Mhlanga

  Poultry and Ostrich Breeding - as above