(a) Define the term animal improvement. (b) (i) Explain the term introduction as used in animal improvement. (ii) State three advantages and three disadvant...

(a) Definition of animal improvement

Animal improvement is the application of scientific principles and techniques (mainly selection and breeding) to develop farm animals with more desirable/superior qualities such as higher yield, faster growth and disease resistance from one generation to the next.

(b)(i) Meaning of introduction

Introduction is the bringing in of animals of superior/improved breeds from another place or country into a new environment in order to improve the local stock or for production.

(b)(ii) Advantages and disadvantages of introduction

Three advantages:

• It is quicker/faster than developing a breed through breeding.
• It brings in superior, high-yielding breeds.
• It may introduce disease-resistant breeds and saves the cost of local breed development.

Three disadvantages:

• Introduced breeds may fail to adapt to the new climate/environment.
• They may introduce new diseases and pests.
• Importation is expensive and the breeds may not perform as expected without special management.

(c)(i) Definition of progeny selection

Progeny selection is the selection of breeding animals based on the performance/qualities of their offspring (progeny) rather than on the individual animal's own performance.

(c)(ii) Five desirable characteristics used in selecting animals for improvement

• High productivity (milk, meat or egg yield).
• Fast growth rate.
• Disease resistance.
• High fertility/prolificacy.
• Good feed conversion efficiency and good body conformation.

(d) Three advantages of artificial insemination

• A single superior sire can serve many females.
• It controls the spread of breeding diseases.
• Semen can be stored and transported over long distances, reducing the cost of keeping males.