Pig breeding (176013)
Course coordinator
Course description
Main objective of the course is to introduce students to the basics of pig breeding. In this sense, students will study the pig breeds, basic selection and reproduction, technological processes in the pig production, as well as different pig production systems.
Type of course
- Undergraduate studies / BS Courses taught in English (Elective course, 2 semester, 1 year)
ECTS: 6.00
English language: L2
E-learning: L2
Teaching hours: 60
Lectures: 32
Practicum: 24
Seminar: 4
Lecturer
Grading
Sufficient (2): 60-70%
Good (3): 71-80%
Very good (4): 81-90%
Excellent (5): 91-100%
General competencies
General competences are related to manage the pig production in different production systems.
Types of instruction
- Lectures
- Auditory Exercises
- Consultations
- Practicum
- Field work
- Seminars
Learning outcomes
| Learning outcome | Evaluation methods |
|---|---|
| - to explain economical and biological importance of pig production | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| - to recognize and describe the most important pig breeds of the world and Croatia | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| - to recognize trais in pig selection and methods of their improvement | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| - to define parameters of pig reproduction and support them by an example | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| - do distinguish pig production systems | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| - to compare nutritional requirements of different pig categories | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| - to identify tehcnological, healthy and economic demands in pig production | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
| -to analyse production results and suggest improvements in production system | discussion during lessons, written exam, oral exam |
Working methods
Teachers' obligations
- teaching according to the curriculum
-organising field work
- monitoring the work of students
- assessment and evaluation of students
- work during the semester trough colloquium and final exam
- quality monitoring to ensure output of competence
- allows contact with students
Students' obligations
Students are required to regularly attend the classes and the attendance is recorded by the professor. For the realization of the professor's signature, students are required to attend at least 80% of lectures and 80% exercises and seminars during the whole semester. If the student is absent from school more than allowed, without reasonable cause, professor's signature will be denied and the student is required to re-enrol the subject in the next academic year. Students are required to attend training courses and seminars, where they are expected to actively engage and participate in the discussion. During the exercises the student is required to pass the colloquium.
For acquiring the final evaluation, students must pass 3 colloquiums during the semester. Students who do not pass the course by the end of the semester are required to take the final exam during the regular examination periods.
Methods of grading
| Evaluation elements | Maximum points or Share in evaluation | Grade rating scale | Grade | Direct teaching hours | Total number of average student workload | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attending lessons | 32 | 32 | 1 | |||
| Seminars | 10 | 4 | 8 | 0,5 | ||
| Attending auditory and practical exercises | 16 | 32 | 1 | |||
| Participation in field work | Subjective teacher's evaluation | 8 | 8 | 0,5 | ||
| Written test I | 20 |
<60% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
0 | 20 | 0,5 |
| Written test II | 30 |
<60% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
0 | 20 | 1 |
| Written test III | 20 |
<60% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
0 | 20 | 0,5 |
| Final exam | 20 |
<60% 60-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% |
Insufficient (1) Sufficient (2) Good (3) Very good (4) Excellent (5) |
0 | 40 | 1 |
| Total | 100 | 30 | 180 | 6 |
Weekly class schedule
- Basic information about the module (content, literature, way of examination) Pig production in Croatia and in the world
- The origin of domestic pig, morphological and physiological changes in the domestication of pigs Pig breeds review (local breeds, modern breeds, hybrid lines)
- The inheritance of quantitative and qualitative traits of pigs Generation interval, genetic improvement
- Breeding methods, crossbreeding Estimation of breeding values of pigs, pig marking and recording of production indicators
- Performance test, progeny test, selection methods Estimation of genetic parameters, pig breeding programmes
- The reproductive cycle in pigs, oestrus, boar use Production indicators in pig reproduction
- Mating and fertilization, detection of oestrus Artificial insemination of pigs, pregnancy detection
- Growth of pigs, sows farrowing, procedures with piglets after birth The causes of embryonic and fetal losses
- Milk yield of sows, weaning methods, procedures with gilts and boars The calculation of basic production indicators
- Pig feeding pigs by categories Quality of carcasses and pork
- Pig production systems (indoor, outdoor, combined) The design of the floor in pig buildings, the microclimate in pig buildings
- Field trip on family farms with indoor pig production systems Field trip on family farms with outdoor pig production systems
- Using pigs for other purposes (medical research, pets), biotechnology in pig production Behaviour of pigs, assessment of the welfare of pigs
- Presentation of the seminars, work with mentor Presentation of the seminars, work with mentor
- Colloquium, seminars Debate, oral examination
Obligatory literature
- Whitemore, C.T. The sience and practice of pig production, Blackwell science, 1998
Recommended literature
- Christiansen, J.P. The basics of Pig production, Danish agricultural advisory center, 2005
Similar course at related universities
- Prašičereja, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za zootehniko
- Biološki i zootehnički principi u svinjogojstvu, Poljoprivredni fakultet Osijek
- Suinicultura, University of Padova
- Pig breeding, University of Kaposvar