Unit notes and practice questions

Grade 11 Agriculture unit 6: Animal Genetics and Breeding Practices

Everything here is for unit 6 of the Grade 11 Agriculture textbook: what the chapter covers, the short notes, practice questions with their answers, and the lesson video where one exists.

4
Cards: 10
Practice questions on unit 6: 91–105
The textbook pages for unit 6

What unit 6 covers

1.Introduction to animal genetics and breeding
2.Breed improvement methods
3.Farm animal reproductive technologies
4.Animal identification and record keeping

Short notes for unit 6

The cards filed under this chapter on the Grade 11 Agriculture page. Open one at a time.

Animal Identification SystemsReference tablePermanent identification · Temporary identification

Identification Category	Examples	Primary Purpose
Permanent identification	Branding, ear tags, tattooing, ear notches, microchips	Lifelong tracking for pedigree, health, and culling
Temporary identification	Tail marking (pen/chalk), clipping hair, dying fur	Short term herd handling and management

When you use it

Use to classify permanent versus temporary livestock identification techniques.

Watch out

Ear tags and ear notches are permanent methods, whereas tail chalking and dying fur are temporary.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 94-107, then checked twice before it went up

Livestock Breeding SystemsReference tableIn-breeding · Line-breeding · Out-breeding · +1

Breeding System	Relationship of Mated Animals	Key Feature
In-breeding	Closely related (e.g. father to daughter, siblings)	Pure lines, risk of in-breeding depression
Line-breeding	Distantly related (e.g. cousins)	Consolidates ancestor traits, delayed depression
Out-breeding	Unrelated within the same breed	Increased vigor and productivity within breed
Cross-breeding	Different breeds of the same species	Heterosis or hybrid vigor

When you use it

Use to compare related and unrelated breeding systems and their genetic outcomes.

Watch out

Out-breeding occurs within the same breed, whereas cross-breeding occurs between different breeds of the same species.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 94-107, then checked twice before it went up

Methods of Artificial SelectionReference tableMass selection · Progeny selection · Family selection · +1

Selection Method	Basis of Selection
Mass selection	Own individual performance in the field
Progeny selection	Performance of offspring
Family selection	Performance of relatives or family members
Pedigree selection	Performance of ancestors

When you use it

Use to distinguish the four artificial selection methods based on whose performance data is evaluated.

Watch out

Do not confuse pedigree selection (ancestors) with progeny selection (offspring).

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 94-107, then checked twice before it went up

Reproductive TechnologiesReference tableArtificial Insemination (AI) · Embryo Transfer (ET)

Technology	Biological Material	Primary Storage	Key Biological Role
Artificial Insemination (AI)	Semen (sperm cells)	$-196^{\circ}\text{C}$ in liquid nitrogen	Superior male genetics deposited in female reproductive tract
Embryo Transfer (ET)	Fertilized embryos	Transferred fresh or frozen	Superior female (donor) multiplied via surrogate recipient

When you use it

Use to contrast artificial insemination and embryo transfer procedures and biological roles.

Watch out

In embryo transfer, the donor is the superior genetic female, while the recipient surrogate is an inferior productive animal.

Drafted from Grade 11 Agriculture, pages 94-107, then checked twice before it went up

Practice questions on unit 6

10 multiple-choice questions written against this chapter, each with its answer and the reason. Try one before you open the answer.

Question 1

According to animal genetics, what are genes?

A.Small sections of DNA coded for specific traits
B.Proteins added to compound feed for livestock
C.Hormones used to treat female reproductive organs
D.Liquid fluids collected from superior male animals

Show the answer and why

Answer: A Small sections of DNA coded for specific traits

Why

Genes are small sections of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that are coded for specific traits and are located on chromosomes.

Question 2

Which of the following is a common characteristic of local livestock breeds in Ethiopia?

A.They mature very early and have large body sizes
B.They produce higher yields than exotic breeds
C.They are adapted to the local environment and resist diseases
D.They cannot survive in the Ethiopian climate

Show the answer and why

Answer: C They are adapted to the local environment and resist diseases

Why

The textbook states that Ethiopian local breeds are usually small and slow to mature, but they are well adapted to the local environment and resistant to diseases.

Question 3

At what temperature is bull semen stored in liquid nitrogen for artificial insemination?

A.0 °C
B.-20 °C
C.-100 °C
D.-196 °C

Show the answer and why

Answer: D -196 °C

Why

Semen containing spermatozoa is diluted and stored in liquid nitrogen in a freezer at a temperature of -196 °C.

Question 4

Which of the following is classified as a temporary method of animal identification?

A.Ear notching
B.Branding
C.Marking the tail with chalk
D.Inserting microchips

Show the answer and why

Answer: C Marking the tail with chalk

Why

Tail marking with a pen or chalk, clipping hair, and dying fur are temporary methods, while branding, ear notches, and microchips are permanent.

Question 5

When a farmer selects breeding stock based strictly on the performance of their ancestors, which method of artificial selection is being used?

A.Mass selection
B.Pedigree selection
C.Progeny selection
D.Family selection

Show the answer and why

Answer: B Pedigree selection

Why

Pedigree selection is the method where animals are selected or rejected based on the performance of their ancestors.

Question 6

What does the term culling mean in animal breeding and management?

A.Removing animals that do not perform at the desired level from the herd
B.Mating closely related animals such as brother and sister
C.Treating a donor cow with hormones to produce multiple eggs
D.Keeping detailed records of an animal's daily milk production

Show the answer and why

Answer: A Removing animals that do not perform at the desired level from the herd

Why

Culling is the removal of animals which do not perform at the desired level from the herd, leaving only superior animals for breeding.

Question 7

A farmer in Arsi mates an Arsi cow with a Holstein Friesian (HF) bull. What type of breeding system is this?

A.In-breeding
B.Line-breeding
C.Cross breeding
D.Pedigree breeding

Show the answer and why

Answer: C Cross breeding

Why

Cross breeding is the mating of animals of the same species but different breeds, such as mating an Arsi cow with an HF bull.

Question 8

Which of the following is a physical sign that a cow is in heat (oestrus)?

A.Swelling around the vulva and a thin mucous discharge
B.Sudden increase in feed appetite
C.Complete avoidance of all other herd-mates
D.Dry, pale lips of the vulva

Show the answer and why

Answer: A Swelling around the vulva and a thin mucous discharge

Why

Signs of oestrus include loss of appetite, restlessness, vocalization, swelling around the vulva, redder and moister vulva lips, and a thin mucous discharge.

Question 9

How does line-breeding differ from close in-breeding?

A.Line-breeding involves mating distantly related animals so undesirable traits take longer to appear
B.Line-breeding mates unrelated animals belonging to completely different species
C.Line-breeding produces hybrid vigor immediately in the first generation
D.Line-breeding completely eliminates all recessive genes permanently

Show the answer and why

Answer: A Line-breeding involves mating distantly related animals so undesirable traits take longer to appear

Why

Line-breeding involves mating distantly related animals (like cousins). It has similar disadvantages to close in-breeding, but it takes a longer period for in-breeding depression to appear.

Question 10

During the recto-vaginal method of artificial insemination in cattle, why does the inseminator insert a gloved hand into the rectum?

A.To deposit the semen straw directly into the rectal wall
B.To catch and hold the cervix through the rectal wall
C.To recover unfertilized eggs from the ovary
D.To measure the exact internal temperature of the cow

Show the answer and why

Answer: B To catch and hold the cervix through the rectal wall

Why

In the recto-vaginal technique, the gloved hand is inserted into the rectum to grasp and guide the cervix through the rectal wall while the AI gun passes through the vagina.

The app holds 12 questions on this unit, marked as you go. These are the first 10.

The textbook pages for unit 6

Unit 6 runs from page 91 to page 105 of the Ministry of Education edition.

Ministry of Education edition, English, 270 pages

Download the PDF

All Grade 11 Agriculture short notes

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