Principles of Animal Production (602101) (3 credit hrs)
Dept. of Animal Production
Pre-requisite: Biology (304101)
Faculty of Agriculture
Lecturer: Prof. Mohammad Jihad Tabbaa
The University of Jordan
Office hours: 10:00-11:00 (S, T)
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to establish an understanding of the importance of animal
production as a major field of agriculture production. It focuses on the subjects, which enrich
information about farm animals regarding heredity and environment that leads to increase animal
production of meat, milk and eggs to provide animal protein for human consumption.
Textbook:
“Introduction to Animal Science, 1999” by Wilson G. Pond and Kevin R. Pond, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., New York, USA.
Reading Assignments
Week
Subject
From The Textbook
Introduction
 Importance of farm animals
Ch 1, P 1
1
 Origin and domestication of farm animals
 Role of animals in agriculture
Important types and breeds of farm animals
Ch 32, P 508
 Poultry breeds, strains and lines
Ch 24, P 386
 Dairy cattle breeds and their characteristics
Ch 22, P 346
2&4
 Beef cattle breeds and their characteristics
Ch 28, P 444
 Sheep breeds and their type of production.
Ch 33, P 532
 Goat breeds and their type of production.
Animal products
 Role and importance of animal products in human diet
Ch 5, P 87
 Milk and milk products
Ch 3, P 55
5&6
 Red meat
Ch 6, P 109
 Poultry meat and egg production
 Animal by-products: skin, wool and manure
Basic animal genetics
 Inheritance of traits
 Bridge of heredity between generations
 Inheritance of qualitative traits
Ch 12, P 204
7&8
 Inheritance of economic traits
 Selection systems
 Mating systems
Genetic improvement of farm animals
 Beef cattle
Ch 13, P 227
9 & 10
 Dairy cattle
 Poultry
Physiology of reproduction in mammals and birds
 Reproductive system of the bull
 Reproductive system of the cow
Ch 10, P 167
 Reproductive system of the cock
11 & 12
 Reproductive system of the hen
 Hormones of reproduction
 Artificial insemination of the cow
Week
13 & 14
15 & 16
16
Reading Assignments
From The Textbook
Subject
Physiology of digestion in ruminants and birds
 Digestive system of the cow
 Digestive system of the hen
 Digestion of feed in ruminants
 Digestion of feed in birds
Nutrition and nutritional requirements of farm animals
 Nutrients
 Nutritional value of feed
 Chemical analysis of feed
 Nutritional requirements of farm animals
Animal production in Jordan
Ch 16, P 271
Ch 15, P 257
Technical & Statistical
Reports
Course Outcomes
At the end of this course, students are expected to be able to:
 Comprehend the principles of animal production regarding the fields of heredity, breeding,
nutrition and management in the goal of raising animals of high production potential.
 Gain preliminary competences in animal production.
 Gain simple understanding about reproductive physiology in mammals and birds and the
factors affecting it in order o increase reproductive efficiency.
 Understand the physiology of digestion in ruminants and birds.
 Understand the nutritive requirements of farm animals.
 Identify types and breeds of farm animals and their type of production.
Class participation
Students are expected to attend all classes on time. Participate in class discussions and
engage in asking and answering questions raised. Be prepared for quizzes and exams and submit
reports about identified topics in animal production.
Exams and grades
Exam
Midterm exam
Quizzes
Homeworks
Field trip
Trip report
Final exam
Grade (%)
30
5
5
5
5
50
References
Reference Title
Scientific Farm Animal Production: An
Introduction to Animal Science
Animal Production and Management
Principles of Animal Agriculture
Author(s)
Robert E. Taylor
Year
1995
Library Code
SF61.P65
Barrick & Harmon
Charles E. Stufflebeam
1988
1983
SF61.S78
SF61.B35