🐄🐑🐖 Livestock Breeding Revision Guide
Level: 2–3 Apprenticeships | Linked Duties: 4, 13, 14 | Knowledge: K4, K12 | Skills: S4, S12
1️⃣ Introduction to Breeding
Breeding underpins productivity and welfare. Each species has different priorities — from dairy milk yield to pig litter size.
| Species | Main Goal |
|---|---|
| 🐄 Dairy Cattle | High milk yield & fertility |
| 🐄 Beef Cattle | Growth rate, carcass quality |
| 🐑 Sheep | Lambing rate, mothering ability |
| 🐖 Pigs | Litter size, feed efficiency |
💡 Did You Know? A single AI bull can sire over 50,000 calves globally!
2️⃣ Reproductive Systems
♀️ Female Reproductive System
| Part | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ovaries | Produce eggs & hormones | Sows release multiple eggs; cows usually one |
| Uterus | Foetal development | Long uterine horns in pigs |
| Cervix | Barrier to infection | Firm in cattle — requires skill for AI |
💡 Boars produce up to 300ml of semen per ejaculate — bulls around 5ml!
3️⃣ Reproductive Cycle
| Stage | Cattle | Sheep | Pigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat (Oestrus) | 12–24 hrs | 24–36 hrs | 2–3 days |
| Gestation | 283 days | 147 days | 115 days |
| Parturition | Calving | Lambing | Farrowing |
📘 Remember: Newborns must receive colostrum within 6 hours for immunity.
4️⃣ Breeding Techniques
Selective Breeding
Selecting parents with the best traits improves the next generation.
Artificial Insemination (AI)
| Technique | Used In | Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Standard AI | Cattle, pigs | Access to top sires, lower disease risk |
| Synchronisation | Sheep, cattle | Groups breed together for easier management |
| Sexed Semen | Dairy, beef | 90% accurate gender selection |
5️⃣ Genetics & Selection
| Concept | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dominant Gene | Always expressed | Polled (hornless) cattle |
| Recessive Gene | Needs both parents | Some pig coat colours |
| Hybrid Vigour | Crossbred offspring outperform parents | Texel × Mule lambs grow faster |
💡 EBVs predict up to 70% of genetic potential before an animal is born!
6️⃣ Detecting Heat
| Species | Signs | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy Cow | Restless, mounting others | Chalk tail paint, activity collars |
| Sheep | Seeks ram, tail wagging | Raddle harness |
| Pigs | Rigid stance, red vulva | Back pressure test |
7️⃣ Advanced Techniques
| Technology | Use | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Embryo Transfer (ET) | Cattle, sheep | Rapid genetic progress |
| Genomics | DNA analysis | Early selection accuracy |
| Infertility Treatment | All species | Improved breeding rates |
🐄 One elite dairy cow can produce over 100 offspring using ET!
8️⃣ Recording & Data
Accurate records help monitor fertility, welfare, and performance.
- 📋 AI & Service Dates
- 🧾 Birth and health records
- 📈 EBVs and performance data
🧠 Knowledge Check
- 1️⃣ What are three signs of heat in pigs?
- 2️⃣ Explain hybrid vigour.
- 3️⃣ Name one advantage of synchronisation in breeding.
- 4️⃣ What is the purpose of colostrum?
🌱 Livestock Breeding – Apprenticeship Revision Guide