Introduction to
Breeding
Animal Breeding
Pensacola Jr College
Where does
breeding fit in life?
w First, animals meet basic
survival needs
w Reproduction is next on the
list, assures immortality of its genetic material
w Thus, must meet basic needs
of animal first
Vertebrate
Reproduction Overview
What is studied?
w Sperm / egg production:
Reproductive organs
Hormonal control / cycles
Secondary sex organs
w Fertilization:
Sperm / egg characteristics
Medium
Fertilization process
Genetics
What is studied? (contd)
w Embryo development:
Cell division
Differentiation
Placentation (mammals)
w Hatching / birth:
Shell / amnion
characteristics
Triggers to hatching
Triggers to parturition
What is studied?
(contd)
w Offspring development:
Cell division and
specialization
Lactation (mammals)
Sexual maturation and mating
w Normal reproduction vs.
problems with the system
w Modification of reproduction
Why study animal
reproduction?
w Complete understanding of
animals under your care
w Understand physiology to sustain
captive population
w Control repro processes:
Increase reproductive
potential
Control genetic traits
How do we
investigate animal reproduction?
w Utilize the scientific
method of investigation in research!!
Scientific Method
w Observations
w Form hypothesis
educated guess of results
w Design experiment
Experimental / control
groups
w Collect data
w Analyze results
w Draw conclusions