Class Animal Breading and Betterment I

This curricular unit is developed in the 3rd year of the integrated master's degree in Veterinary Medicine and presents the context of production animals and the aspects of veterinary medicine involved in raising them, such as knowledge of nutrition, animal welfare, reproduction and health aspects.

1 - Dairy cattle. Breeds used and production systems. Production cycle and production management: nutritional (metabolic diseases); health; reproductive and genetic improvement.

2- Beef cattle. Breeds used. Production cycles. Health management and preventative measures. Reproductive management and genetic improvement.

3- Sheep and goats. Breeds used, production cycle and production systems. Animal management: nutritional, reproductive and genetic, health and preventative measures.

4 - Pigs. Breeds, production systems and production cycle. Nutritional, health and preventative management. Facilities.  Reproductive management and breeding programmes applied to pig farming.

5 - Economic sustainability of animal production. Costs and income: a) livestock (welfare), c) labour and service costs; d) income and profit according to zootechnical indices.

6 - Climate change and greenhouse gases. Animal production and methane. Methane mitigation methods.

Teaching/learning in theoretical classes will be conventional, using material developed in Power Point, made available on moodle and learning will be graded through conventional tests, using the structures recommended for this purpose.
However, in the practical classes various teaching/learning techniques will be used: a) field work, in which the Animal Production project will be developed that represents a problem (student-centred teaching strategy); b) theoretical-practical classes: in this format aspects of animal management are developed; and c) technical visits to model farms - students identify the aspects covered in theoretical and theoretical-practical classes, referring to the management, environment and economic management of farms. The practical component will be assessed by the grading of projects, carried out by teachers and students.

GAMA L. T. (2022). Melhoramento genético animal. Escolar Editora.

FONT J. & J. BERNAUS (2005). Custos na produção suinícola. EDIVET, Ediciones Veterinárias, Canet de Mar, Espanha.

FRIES, R. & A. RUVINSKY (1999). The genetics of cattle. CABI Publishing, CAB International, UK. 

BUXADÉ, C. (1996). Zootecnia, base da producción animal. Vol I a XIII. Ediciones Mundi-Prensa, Castelló 37, 28001 Madrid, España.