Observation

 

This question was fairly attempted by the candidates. Most of them could not incorporate the key words in the definition of animal improvement and introduction as required in 6(a-b), However, most of the candidates were able to enumerate the advantages of artificial insemination as required in 6(d) but could not answer 6 (c) effectively.

The expected answers include:

(a) Definition of animal improvement

Refers to techniques used in developing and breeding animals with greatest merit/better characters over the existing ones.

OR

Refers to the process of transferring superior characters from one domesticated animal to another of the same species.

(d)

(i) Explanation of the term introduction It is the process of bringing an animal with high quality into a new farm/country/environment

(ii)Advantages of introduction

- Increases population of desirable breed

- Generic diversity of animals is increased

- Introduced breed can bring about rapid improvement of local breed

- Breeds better than the local breeds are obtained/high productivity

(iii) Disadvantages of introduction

- New diseases could be introduced

- New pests could be introduced

- New animals may be susceptible to local diseases

- Could lead to loss of indigenous breed

- Hidden undesirable traits may manifest

- Animal may not perform optimally if it does not adapt to the new environment

(c)

(i) Definition of progeny selection It is the choosing/selecting an animal based on the performance of the offspring for breeding purposes

(ii) Desirable characteristics for selecting animals for improvement

- Body conformation

- Yield/Productivity e.g. milk yield, egg laying

- Quality of product

- Resistance to diseases

- Resistance to pests

- Feed conversion ability/ratio

- Growth rate

- Fertility

- Birth weight

- Litter size/high fecundity/proliferacy

- Adaptation to the environment

- Coat/feather colour

- Early maturity/puberty