ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 74.25 Hours of tutorials: 2.25 Expository Class: 18 Interactive Classroom: 18 EEES Clinics: 6 Total: 118.5
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
Areas: Animal production
Center Faculty of Veterinary Science
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
Genetic Improvement of farm animals is application of genetic science to outputs of domestic animals. Veterinary students acquire knowledge about:
- Genetic nature of economically important characters and definition of a selection objective that will aim at maximizing economic profitability by means of increment of productive efficiency. One of first steps for organizing a program of genetic improvement must be taking necessary data for achieving objectives and knowing genetic parameters that may be interesting for population that is going to be improved.
- Prediction of genetic value of an individual from data obtained from itself or its relatives. The aim of genetic evaluation is to identify best animals, which carry a suitable combination of genes that will transmit to their descendants.
- Definition of selection scheme that aims diffusion of best animals in all population by means of use of new reproduction technologies.
- Genetic basis of disease resistance.
- The implication of genetic improvement on health and animal welfare.
- Conservation of animal genetic resources by knowing genetic-productive, scientific and cultural motivations that justify them.
THEORETICAL PROGRAM:
UNIT 1.- INTRODUCTION. 1h.
UNIT 2.- ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETRES. 2h.
UNIT 3.- RESISTANCE TO DISEASES. 2h.
UNIT 4.- GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF THE HEREDITARY DISEASES. 1h.
UNIT 5.- MOLECULAR GENETIC MARKERS. 1h.
UNIT 6.- BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ANIMAL GENETIC IMPROVEMENT: GENOMIC SELECTION. 2h.
UNIT 7.- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN DAIRY CATTLE. 3h.
UNIT 8.- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN BEEF CATTLE. 2h.
UNIT 9.- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN SHEEP AND GOATS. 2h.
UNIT 10. GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN PIGS. 3h.
UNIT 11.- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN POULTRY. 2 h.
UNIT 12.- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN RABBIT. 1h.
UNIT 13.- GENETIC IMPROVEMENT IN AQUACULTURE. 1h.
UNIT 14.- CONSERVATION OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES. 1h.
UNIT 15.- IMPLICATIONS OF GENETIC IMPROVEMENT ON HEALTH AND ANIMAL WELFARE. 2h.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:
PRACTICE 1: CSA LB1
Practical assumptions about the control of consanguinity. Introduction to BLUP and its use to predict genetic values. 4h. Computer room.
PRACTICE 2: CSA LB2
Interpretation of genealogical charts and stud catalogs.
Search and interpretation of information on genetic values and multi-character selection indices.4h. Computer room.
PRACTICE 3: CSA LB3
Mating programs. 4h. Computer room.
PRACTICE 4: CSA LB4
Genetic improvement in poultry. 4h. Computer room and Laboratory of the Animal Production Area.
PRACTICE 5: CSA C1
Morphological qualification, data collection for genetic evaluations, 4h. Practice to be carried out at the Campus Terra Farm
PRACTICE 6:CSA C2
Testing of bovine stallions of dairy and meat aptitude. Visit to the Molecular Genetics Laboratory and Testing Center. Visit to a breeding hen farm. 6h. Practice to be carried out at the Campus Terra Farm and at a breeding hen farm.
Basic
BLASCO, A. 2021. "Mejora genética animal". Ed. Síntesis. SA.
CABALLERO-RÚA, A.2017. “Genética cuantitativa”. Ed.Síntesis SA.
CONAFE. Confederación nacional de frisona española.
https://www.conafe.com/
http://sinbad.conafe.com/IndicesGen/Docs/evaluaciones_Metodologia_y_req…
http://sinbad.conafe.com/IndicesGen/Docs/evaluaciones_Metodologia_Genom…
ICAR (International Committee for Animal Recording) www.icar.org
FALCONER, D.S. y T.F.C. MACKAY. 2001. “Introducción a la Genética Cuantitativa”. Ed. Acribia.
LOPOLD R. 2009. “Animal genetics (Animal Science, Issues and Professions)”. Nova Science Pub.
NICHOLAS, F.W. 2010. “Introduction to veterinary genetics”. Ed. Wiley-Blackwell
OLDENBROEK, K; WAAIJ, L. 2014. "Texbook animal breeding: animal breeding and genetics for BSc students". Wageningen University. https://library.wur.nl/WebQuery/wurpubs/524548
TELO DA GAMA, L. 2024. "Mejoramiento genético animal". Ed. Acribia. SA.
Complementary
European Federation of Animal Science. http://www.eaap.org/
FAO. http://www.fao.org/
GJIEDREM, T. 2005. “Selection and Breeding Programs in Aquaculture”. Springer.
Goatmap database. http://locus.jouy.inra.fr/cgi-bin/lgbc/mapping/common/intro2.pl?BASE=go…
Khatib. H. 2014. “Molecular and Quantitative Animal Genetics”. Wiley-Blackwell
Manexo de caprinos. http://www.capritec.com.br/
National Center of Biotechnology Information. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
OMIA: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals. https://omia.org/home/
Quantitative Genetic Resources. http://nitro.biosci.arizona.edu/zbook/book.html
SANCHEZ-RODRÍGUEZ, M. 2012. "Valoración morfológica del ganado caprino". Servet.
Software Tools for Animal Gene Mapping. http://animalgene.umn.edu/
VARONA-AGUADO, L. 2020. "Guías prácticas en producción porcina. Mejora genética". Servet.
Xenética de Poboacións. http://158.109.215.191/base/base.asp?sitio=geneticapoblaciones&anar=ini…
Bibliography, as well as that electronic access bibliography available at the USC Library A BUSC EN LIÑA https: // buscon The use of both basic and complementary internet resources specified in the line.gal section is recommended. Also, through portico (http://sfx.bugalicia.org/san/az) and EZproxy (https: // ezbusc), managed by BUGalici
GENERIC (GVUSC):
GVUSC01.- Capacity for learning and adaptation.
GVUSC02.- Capacity for analysis and synthesis.
GVUSC03.- General knowledge about the work area.
GVUSC05.- Ability to apply knowledge in practice
DISCIPLINARY (CEDVUSC):
CEDVUSC01.- Generic knowledge of animals, their behavior and the bases of their identification.
CEDVUSC03.- Breeding, improvement, management and welfare of animals.
CEDVUSC04.- Physical, chemical and molecular bases of the main processes that take place in the animal organism.
CEDVUSC10.- Know the techniques applicable to domestic animals, including those with direct influence on animal and human health.
CEDVUSC11.- Knowledge of the bases of operation and optimization of animal and plant production systems and their repercussions on the environment.
PROFESSIONALS (D1VUSC):
D1VUSC11.- Assess and interpret the productive and health parameters of an animal group, considering the economic, environmental and welfare aspects, seeking their optimization.
D1VUSC15.- Advice and management, technical and economic, of veterinary companies in a context of sustainability.
D1VUSC 16.- Apply the methods of individual identification of animals.
D1VUSC17.- Prepare technical reports on veterinary skills.
ACADEMIC (CEAVUSC)
CEAVUSC 01.- Analyze, synthesize, solve problems and make decisions in the professional fields of the veterinarian.
CEAVUSC 02.- Maintain ethical behavior in the exercise of their responsibilities before the veterinary profession and society.
CEAVUSC 03.- Disseminate the information obtained during the professional practice of the veterinarian in a fluid, oral and written way, with other colleagues, authorities and society in general.
CEAVUSC 08.- Be aware of the need to keep the knowledge, skills and attitudes of professional skills updated through a process of ongoing training.
TRANSVERSAL (CTVUSC):
CTVUSC01.- Capacity for reasoning and argumentation.
CTVUSC02.- Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information through various means, such as bibliographic information and the Internet, and analyze it critically.
CTVUSC03.- Ability to prepare and present an organized and understandable text.
CTVUSC04.- Ability to make a presentation in public in a clear, coherent and concise manner.
CTVUSC05.- Ability to use ICTs.
CTVUSC07.- Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of their knowledge
1. Lecture sessions (26 lectures lasting 50 minutes) with support of ICT and systematic use of Virtual Campus as a teaching support.
2. Interactive sessions: 100% presential. Active visits (CSA C1 e CSA C2) (10 hours) and computer practices (CSA LB1, CSA LB2, CSA LB3 and CSA LB4) (16 hours). It is compulsory to respect security and hygiene standards in practical lessons.
3. Tutorials (CSA T): The tutorials will be mainly presential.
The learning of the subject is divided into five components:
- Theory: expository and participatory classes to explain the main concepts of the subject.
- Practical cases: participatory classes for the interpretation of reports.
- Active visits to be carried out at the Campus Terra Farm (CSA C1) and at the Centro de Testaxe Xenética Fontao and collaborating farms (CSA C2), with a practical explanation of the activities that take place there and carrying out practices on the contents taught.
- Practical lessons in computer room (CSA LB1-LB4): Practical lessons are developed using the computer to log in information sources and to use informatic tools.
The fundamental theoretical contents will be developed in lectures, complementing the teaching with interactive sessions, where the topics described in the Contents section of this Guide will be expanded in a practical way.
It is important that students prepare their own notebook on the subject, with all the available information (teaching material that will be provided for each topic, notes collected in class and expanded with additional information, as well as information obtained from practical classes).
The interactive practical sessions stimulate student activity, the application of the knowledge provided in the lectures, as well as group work and discussion. The practices will begin by establishing the objectives of the same, giving guidelines for their follow-up.
During the active visit to the Campus Terra teaching farm, the practice will consist of the morphological evaluation of the animals, in order to obtain data for the estimation of genetic values. During the active visit to the Molecular Genetics Laboratory / Testing Center, an explanation will be given of the activities carried out there, with a follow-up of the procedures for the production and distribution of genetic material and genomic analysis.
Tutoring, either face-to-face or online, is a teaching technique that represents a great benefit for teaching, both to resolve doubts that the student has about the subject, and to guide the preparation of the proposed work in the practical sessions.
The teaching material used is made available to the student through the USC Virtual Campus.
In order to promote continuous assessment and to test the learning of each practical session, the use of each practical session will be verified by taking an evaluation test (multiple choice test, with multiple answers or true / false, or solving practical problems or a combination of both). In all cases, the continuous evaluation will be carried out within the hours of the teaching activity, with delivery of the works or tests carried out at the end of the session.
In the case of practices where the student must carry out autonomous work, the individual product of said activity will be evaluated, and the presentation of results may be included in the evaluation. In the case of tests or practical cases to be developed in a group, the qualification of the work presented will be the same for all the members of the group.
The set of continuous assessment tests will have a weight of 30% of the final grade.
At the end of the theoretical and practical sessions there will be a final exam.
To attend it is necessary to attend 100% of the practices.
All the subject taught, both in the theoretical classes and in the practical ones, is susceptible to entering the final exam.
The final exam will consist of a mixed test with multiple choice questions or short essay questions. It will have a weight of 70% of the final grade. This exam will be passed by exceeding 50% of the exam value. In that case, the continuous assessment grade will be added. If the final exam is not passed, the grade that will be applied will be the one obtained in this exam, relativized to ten and will not be added to the other grades.
Assitance to practical lessons is compulsory for all students, independently of being realized in previous years. Practical lessons could be validated if passed, in that case the qualification will be that of the previous year. The continous evaluation qualification, in case of having a mininmum to pass, will be kept just for one year.
Waivers of class attendance will not be granted.
Presencial work at classroom:
- Magisterial clases: 26h
- Active practices: 10h
- Computer practices: 16
- Tutorships in groups limited or individualized: 1h
- Total hours presential work: 53h
Student personal work
- Individual study: 47h
- Resolution of cases and problems 10h
- Exams: 2,5h
- Total hours autonomous work: 59,5h
Total Student work: 112,5h
- Attend all the activities of the subject, both theoretical and practical.
- Use the tutorials to clarify doubts about the contents developed in the classes.
- Make use of the new technologies available: Virtual USC or e-mail that help to improve teaching.
- Dedicate the planned weekly time for each content in an organized and systematic way.
- Consult the bibliography as the topics are developed and make use of the rest of the consultation tools (websites, magazines) to expand knowledge on the topics covered during the course.
- Actively participate in the development of teaching activities, raising doubts and making constructive comments on the subjects taught.
-Review the theoretical contents taught before carrying out the corresponding practices, in order to make teaching more efficient.
In the case of plagiarism, fraud or improper use of technologies during the realization of the evaluation, the provisions of the “Regulations for the evaluation of the academic performance of students and the review of grades” will apply.
Alejandro Fernandez Fernandez
- Department
- Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
- Area
- Animal production
- alejandro.fernandez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOSU (Organic Law Of University System) Associate University Professor
Ramiro Antonio Fouz Dopacio
- Department
- Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
- Area
- Animal production
- ramiro.fouz [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor
Cynthia Lopez Novo
Coordinador/a- Department
- Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
- Area
- Animal production
- cynthia.lopez.novo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary supply professor for IT and others
| Wednesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish, Galician | Classroom 2 |
| Thursday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 05.21.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 05.21.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 05.21.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 07.03.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 07.03.2025 12:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |