17 Questions
What is the primary purpose of the nucleus herd in a pyramid breeding structure?
To maintain and improve the purebred lines
Which tier in the pyramid breeding structure is responsible for producing the crossbred or F1 cross animals?
The multiplier tier
What is the primary role of the commercial or base herds in the pyramid breeding structure?
To produce the terminal cross animals for meat production
Which type of breeding scheme allows animals from the lower tiers to contribute progeny to the upper tiers?
Open nucleus breeding scheme
What is a prerequisite for a successful animal breeding program, according to the text?
Both availability of records and a reliable identification system
Which of the following statements is true about the nucleus tier in a pyramid breeding structure?
It may include synthetic populations resulting from mixing several breeds
What is the purpose of EBV (or EPD) in animal selection?
To estimate the genetic value of animals and project offspring performance
What is the primary purpose of culling in livestock breeding?
To remove animals with poor reproductive performance from the herd
What does the replacement rate measure in livestock production systems?
The balance between culling and selection of breeding females
What does a 40% replacement rate in a breeding herd indicate?
40% of females in the breeding herd are culled
How is genetic progress gene typically measured in a herd or population?
By assessing the change in average EBVs over time
Which parameter indicates that each new generation of young animals is expected to have higher EBVs than previous generations?
Genetic progress gene
What is the primary focus of purebred breeders?
Selecting breeds for their specific characteristics and crossing them to produce maternal or terminal lines
What is meant by the term 'genotype x environment interaction'?
The interaction between the genetic makeup of an organism and its environment
What is the recommended approach for using breed types in a particular production environment?
Use the breed type(s) that are best suited to the particular production environment
Which breeds are expected to perform best when given the highest level of production and management?
High performing breeds (HB) developed and imported from temperate countries
What is the significance of local breeds (LB) in a nation's livestock inventory?
They represent the available non-descript commonly unimproved stocks of smallholder farmers, which notably dominate the nation's livestock inventory
Learn about the classification of nucleus herds in animal breeding programs, including closed and open breeding schemes. Explore the pyramid breeding structure and the importance of records and identification systems. Understand how the nucleus, consisting of purebred herds at the top of the pyramid, plays a crucial role in successful breeding programs.
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