SS3 First Term Agricultural Science Lesson Note – Animal Improvement

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 WEEK: 4                                                                             DATE: …………………………

SUBJECT: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

CLASS: SS 3

TOPIC:  ANIMAL IMPROVEMENT

CONTENT:

1. Meaning, Aims and Methods of Animal Improvement
2. Artificial Insemination

SUB TOPIC: Meaning, Aims and Methods of Animal Improvement

Animal improvement is the process whereby inherited superior traits are transferred from one animal to the other of the same species. Certain characteristics such as good feeding conversion, growth rate, meat quality, high milk yield, good body form etc are major consideration in animal improvement.

 AIMS OF ANIMAL IMPROVEMENT

1. To produce animal with high yielding quality
2. To produce animal with high feed conversion rate
3. To produce animal with high growth rate and early maturity
4. To produce animal that can adapt to varied climatic conditions

METHODS/PROCESS OF ANIMAL IMPROVEMENT

INTRODUCTION: This is bringing animals which are not native of a place but are known to have certain desirable characters into a new place from the place of origin. Such animals are called exotic. Introduction can be by physical importation either of the animals themselves or their semen.

ADVANTAGES

1. It enhances greater productivity
2. It leads to absence of pests and diseases
3. Breeds may perform better and able to adapt to local conditions

DISADVANTAGES

1. It may introduce new diseases and pests to the area
2. There may be problem of adaptation
3. The animals may not perform as expected
4. Animals may be susceptible to local diseases and pests

SELECTION: This is the method whereby a preferred animal is chosen from the population for breeding based on physical features such as growth rate, color, size, resistant to disease and pest, fertility rate, milk quantity and quality etc

TYPES OF SELECTION

(i) NATURAL SELECTION: It operates on the basis of choosing individuals which are able to withstand the unfavorable environmental forces.

(ii) ARTIFICIAL SELECTION: involves man’s ability to discern by observing differences in the animals available and to pick the desirable ones. Under artificial selection, we have

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