AGSC 306: SPECIAL TOPICS IN LIVESTOCK EVALUATION Dr. Glenn R. Wehner 3076 Magruder Hall 785-4593 gwehner@truman.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION Live animal visual appraisal and related statistical analysis of performance of domestic large agricultural animals TEXTBOOK "Livestock and Carcasses-An Integrated Approach to Evaluation, Grading and Selection," Boggs/Merkel/Doumit, Kendal/Hunt Publishing Company COURSE OUTLINE 1. Introduction to Evaluation - Purpose and value 2. Growth, Develpoment and Fattening of Meat Animals A. Growth curves B. Criteria used to evaluate growth in live animal 3. Livestock Improvement through Selection A. Factors affecting selection process B. Estimated Breeding Values (EBV) and Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) C. Selection systems 4. Supplemental Methods in Livestock Selection A. Methods of determining growth potential B. Methods to determine body composition 5. Live Cattle Evaluation A. Evaluation B. Grading C. Estimating Carcass Traits of Live Market Cattle i. Visual ii. Mechanical 6. Evaluation of Beef Cattle Performance Data A. Herd performance B. Individual performance C. Reproduction/Mothering ability D. Growth rate and feed efficiency E. Carcass composition 7. Live Lamb Evaluation and Grading A. Evaluation B. Lamb grading C. Estimation of carcass traits 8. Evaluation of Sheep Performance Data A. National sheep improvement program 9. Market Hog Evaluation and grading A. Evaluation B. Cutability C. Live hog grading D. Estimating carcass traits 10. Evaluation of Swine Performance Data A. Sow productivity B. Growth rate C. Feed efficiency D. Catcass merit E. Selection Indexes F. Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) G. Evaluation of market hog performance EVALUATION Three written exams, attendance records, and visual appraisal grades will comprise the materials assessed for final grades.