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NSWAgricultureQuick questions
Core Part A: Animal Production
Quick questions on Animal reproduction and breeding explained: HSC Agriculture Animal Production
3short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is selection?Show answer
Selection is choosing which animals become parents of the next generation. Producers select for traits with economic value such as growth rate, fertility, wool quality, carcase yield and worm resistance. Modern selection uses objective measurement rather than visual appraisal alone. In the sheep industry, Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) estimate an animal's genetic merit for each trait, correcting for environment and accounting for relatives' performance.
What are breeding technologies?Show answer
Reproductive technologies multiply the impact of superior genetics:
What is genetic gain?Show answer
The rate of genetic improvement depends on the selection differential (how superior the chosen parents are), the accuracy of selection, the heritability of the trait, and the generation interval (how quickly one generation replaces the last). Breeding technologies lift genetic gain mainly by increasing selection intensity (AI and ET spread the very best animals widely) and by improving accuracy (objective EBVs and genomics). A producer must still judge the cost: AI and ET require skill, facilities and money, and only pay off when the genetic and management value of the offspring exceeds that cost.
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