Curriculum vitae AGUSTIN BLASCO

33 Pages·2015·0.19 MB·English

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Curriculum vitae

AGUSTIN BLASCO

Signed by: AGUSTIN BLASCO
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CURRICULUM VITAE
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NAME: AGUSTIN BLASCO

Passport number: AAH578793
Birth date: 14/8/1955

CURRENT POSITION: Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics

UNIVERSITY: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.

DEPARTMENT: Departamento de Ciencia Animal.

ADDRESS: Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Departamento de Ciencia Animal. P.O. Box
22012. Valencia 46071. Spain

PHONE: + 34 963877433 FAX: + 34 963877439
E.MAIL: [email protected]
WEB: www.dcam.upv.es/dcia/ablasco

SUMMARY

Agustín Blasco studied Agriculture engineering and obtained his Ph D with a Thesis about
Rabbit genetics. His career has been focused in quantitative genetics and animal
breeding, particularly with pigs and rabbits, with a recent interest in ethics and animal
welfare. He was president of the World Rabbit Science Association and editor-in-chief of
the international journal World Rabbit Science (indexed in JCR in Quartile 2). He took
three sabbatical years as a visiting researcher, one in what was called Animal Breeding
Research Organisation (now Rolsin Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland), another one in the
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Jouy-en-Josas, France), and also in FAO
(Rome, Italy). He has been awarded by the European Association for Animal Production
and by the Spanish Association of Animal Science. He has been frequently invited as
chairman and to present main papers in relevant international congresses (European
Association for Animal Production, World Congress on Genetics Applied to the Livestock
Production, World Rabbit Congress, among others). He has directed twelve doctoral
theses and published one hundred papers in scientific indexed journals, and more than
200 contributions to congresses, mainly on genetics of components of litter size and
genetics of meat quality. He was Invited speaker in the Openning session of the 8th World
Rabbit Congress on Genetics Applied to the Livestock Production (Belo Horizonte, Brazil,
2006), and Invited Speaker at the SCIRO Livestock Horizons Conference (Brisbane,
Australia, October 2006). Among his international teaching activities, he has given a
course on Bayesian statistics and MCMC at Univ. of Wisconsin (USA), Univ. of Sao Paulo
and Univ. of Lavras (Brazil), Univ. of Padova (Italy), Institut National de la Recherche
Agronomique of Toulouse (France), Univ. Nacional in Montevideo (Uruguay), and Univ. of
Edinburgh, (Scotland, UK). He has been Chapman Lecturer 2008 at the University of
Wisconsin (Madison, USA). He recently published a book on Ethics and Animal Welfare,
both in Spanish and English.
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1. LANGUAGES
(M = Medium level; G = Good level)

English G
Spanish G
French G
Italian G
German M
Catalan G

2. ACADEMIC DEGREES

Ingeniero Agrónomo : 1979. Agriculture School of Valencia (Spain)

Ph D. (Doctor): 1982. Agriculture School of Valencia (Spain)

3. ACADEMIC ACTIVITY

Academic Position

Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Director of the Master in Animal Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology
Head of the Institute of Animal Science and Technology

Courses given

Undergraduate
Quantitative genetics
Animal Breeding and Genetics
Postgraduate
Variance components on unbalance designs
Pig breeding and genetics
Estimation of the Response to selection
Animal Ethics
Statistical data analysis for Animal Production
International postgraduate courses
Population genetics. Course of Animal Science. International Centre of High
Mediterranean Studies.
Growth, carcass quality and meat quality. Course of Rabbit Production. International
Centre of High Mediterranean Studies.
An Introduction to Statistics. Course of Animal Science. International Centre of High
Mediterranean Studies.
Bayesian statistics and MCMC. Postgraduate course given in Univ. of Sao Paulo
(Brazil), Univ. Politécnica de Valencia (Spain), Univ. of Padova (Italy), Institut
National de la Recherche Agronomique of Toulouse (France) Univ. Nacional in
Montevideo (Uruguay), Scottish Agriculture College (Edinburgh, Scotland) and
Wisconsin University (USA).

Other academic activities
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Head of the ERASMUS and SOCRATES programs for students interchange between
Edinburgh University and Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.
Head of the link University-Enterprises for students practical work in Agriculture
Companies
Key-note speaker at the Livestock Horizons conference. Brisbane (Australia), 2006.
Chapman lecturer 2008 at the University of Wisconsin (USA).

Published Lecture notes

- Population genetics. Course of Animal Science. International Centre of High
Mediterranean Studies.
- Growth, carcass quality and meat quality. Course of Rabbit Production.
International Centre of High Mediterranean Studies.
- Animal Breeding. Notes for undergraduate Animal Science students.
- Statistical data analysis

4. RESEARCH ACTIVITY

NATIONAL RESEARCH PLAN

- Research assistant in the project of the National Research Plan “Genetics and nutrition of
the Rabbit”. 1981-83.
- Research assistant in the project of the National Research Plan “Selection of meat rabbit”.
1984-86.
- Research assistant in the project of the National Research Plan “Genetics and reproduction
of meat rabbit” 1988-90.
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan “Evaluation of the Duroc
breed in the Mediterranean Area” 1990-91.
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan “The effect of selection on
rabbit carcass and meat quality”. 1993-94
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan “Selection for litter size
components in rabbit”. 1995-97.
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan "Genetics of the components
of litter size, growth rate, carcass and meat quality in rabbits". 1998-2000.
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan "The effect of selection on
enzymatic and homonal activity in rabbits”. 2001- 2002.
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan “Genetics and selection of
litter size components in rabbit” 2002-2004.
- Research director of the project of the National Research Plan “Genetics of reproduction
and meat quality in rabbit” 2003- 2005.
- Researcher of the project of the National Research Plan “Genetic improvement of rabbit
litter size” 2006- 2008.
- Researcher of the project of the National Research Plan “Genetic variability of lypogenesis
and lipid characteristics of muscle and fat tissue in rabbits” 2007- 2008.
- Research Director of the project of the National Research Plan “Genetic improvement of
litter size and meat quality of rabbits”. 2009-2011.
- Research Director of the project of the National Research Plan “Selection for improving
productivity, welfare and meat quality in rabbits”. 2012-2014.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
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- Visiting researcher for the project AFRC "The inheritance of porcine stress syndrome".
(ABRO, Edinburgh). 1985-86.
- Visiting researcher for the project “Selection on litter size of Frech Large White thorough
litter size components”. (INRA. Jouy-en-Josas). 1994-95.
- Leader of the following Integrated Actions:
With ABRO-Roslin Institute (UK):
“Uterine capacity in pigs and rabbits”. 1991-92
“Uterine capacity in pigs and rabbits”. 1992-93
With INRA (France):
“Genetics of ovulation rate and embryo survival in pigs and rabbits”. 1992
“Genetic improvement of the reproductive efficiency in rabbits”. 1993
“Genetic improvement of the reproductive efficiency in rabbits”. 1994
“Genetic analysis of litter size components in pigs and rabbits”. 1996
“Genetic analysis of litter size components in pigs and rabbits”. 1997
“Genetic analysis of litter size components in pigs and rabbits”. 1998
“Genetic analysis of litter size components in pigs and rabbits”. 2000-2002.
- Leader of the Misión INIA for the development of rabbit production in Uruguay. 1999- 2000.
- Chairman of Group V “Meat quality” in the project “Multi-fatteced research in rabbits”.
COST- 848. 2000 - 2004.

5. DOCTORAL THESIS DIRECTED

SANTACREU, M.A. 1992. Estimación de los parámetros genéticos de la tasa de ovulación,
supervivencia prenatal y tamaño de camada en conejo. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.

GOU, P. 1993. Comparación de cinco tipos de cruzamiento de porcino. Universidad
Politécnica de Valencia.

ARGENTE, M.J. 1996. Selección divergente por eficiencia uterina. Universidad Politécnica
de Valencia.

GALLEGO, M. 1997. Estudio de la tasa de fecundación y la calidad de los embriones en dos
líneas seleccionadas de forma divergente por capacidad uterina. Universidad Politécnica de
Valencia.

PILES M. 2000. Análisis bayesiano de los efectos de la selección por velocidad de
crecimiento sobre las curvas de crecimiento y la calidad de la canal y la carne del conejo.
Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Apto cum laude.

ORTEGA J.A. 2002. Estimación bayesiana de la respuesta a la selección por capacidad
uterina en conejo. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Apto cum laude.

MOCE L. 2003. Maternal and Embryonic genetic effects on prenatal survival in an experiment
of divergent selection for uterine capacity in rabbit. Apto cum laude.

MEKKAWY, W. 2004. QTL Bayesian analysis. Apto cum laude.

IBAÑEZ N. 2006. Modelos para la varianza residual en genética cuantitativa. Una aplicación
en capacidad uterina en conejo. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Calificación: Apto cum
laude.
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PASCUAL M.D. 2007 Effect of selection for growth rate on carcass composition and meta
quality in rabbits. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. Calificación: Apto cum laude.

PEIRO R. 2007. PRG gene as candidate gene for litter size in raabits. Universidad
Politécnica de Valencia. Calificación: Apto cum laude.

ZOMEÑO C. 2013. Genetic analysis of intramuscular fat in rabbits. Universidad Politécnica
de Valencia. Calificación: Sobresaliente cum laude.

6. AWARDS

- Award of Asociación Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario at the best paper of 1986.

- Award of the European Association for Animal Production at the best paper presented in the
Genetic section of the 43rd Annual Meeting, 1992.

- Award of Asociación Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario at the best paper of 1995.

7. STAGES IN RESEARCH CENTRES

Visiting researcher of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation (Edinburgh, UK),
September 1985- September 1986

Visiting researcher of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (Jouy-en-Josas,
Francia). June 1994- June 1995.

Visiting researcher of F.A.O. (Rome) . September 1997- January 1998.

8. OTHERS

Key-note speaker en los CSIRO Horizons in Livestock Science, Brisbane. Australia,
Octubre 2006.

“Chapman Lecturer” Univ. Wisconsin (USA) 2006.

President of the International Commission for rabbit carcass and meat studies harmonisation
1992 to 1994..

Member of the Group Mediterranée d’Etudes sur le Lapin from 1990.

President of the Organisation Committee of the 7th World Rabbit Congress. Valencia 2000.

President of the Scientific Committee of the 8th World Rabit Congress.Mexico 2004

President of the World Rabbit Science Association. 2000-2004.

Head of the Department of Animal Science 1990-1994.
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Head of the Institute for Animal Science and Technology (current position).

Correspondent of Pig News and Information 1990-1994.

Editor in chief of World Rabbit Science 2001-2004.

Referee of the following scientific journals:
- Journal of Animal Science
- Animal Science
- Genetics
- Livestock Production Science
- Genetics, Selection, Evolution
- Animal Production
- Animal Behaviour
- Meat Science
- Small ruminants research
- AGRI
- Investigación Agraria.
- ITEA
- Cuni-Sciences
- Options Mediterrannéennes
- World Rabbit Science

Member of the AfaNet group to study the harmonization of Animal Breeding undergraduate
and postgraduate courses in the EC. 2000-2003.

Member of the European Food Security Authority Working Group for Rabbit farm welfare
2004-2005.

Member of the Spanish and of the Italian Committees for the evaluation of researchers and
lecturers (“Habilitación” and “ Abilitazione” respectively).

Experience in evaluating research projects for the EC programs, for the Spanish National
Research Program and for programs of several countries.
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9. PUBLICATIONS

Books and book chapters

1. BLASCO, A; BASELGA, M. 1981. Desarrollo embrionario en animales. En: Aspectos
prácticos de la enseñanza de la Biología". J.L.Guardiola (Ed.) E.T.S.I.A. Valencia.

2. BLASCO, A. 1984. Genética y nutrición del conejo. In: Nutrición de conejos. C. de
Blas (Ed.). Mundi-Prensa.

3. L.- BASELGA, M.; BLASCO, A. 1989. Mejora Genética del Conejo de producción de
carne. Mundi-Prensa. Madrid, 110 pp.

4. BLASCO, A.; SANTACREU, M.A. 1992 Mejora Genética Animal. Universidad Politécnica
de Valencia. Valencia, 202 pp.

5. BLASCO, A.; BIDANEL, J.P.; HALEY, C. 1995. Genetics and Neonatal survival. En: The
neonatal pig. Development and survival. M.Varley (Ed.) C.A.B. International.

6. BLASCO, A. 1996. La base animal en las explotaciones intensivas. En: Zootecnia, vol. III
Ganado Porcino. C. Buxadé (Ed.) Mundi-Prensa.

7. BLASCO (Ed.). 2000. 7th World Rabbit Congress, Univ. Politécnica de Valencia,
Association Française de Cuniculture. 3 vol. Valencia.

8. BLASCO A., PASCUAL J., ROSELL, J., VICENTE J. 2005. Achievements of research
in the field of Rabbits. In: Animal production and animal science worldwide. WAAP
Book of the Year 2005. A. Rosati, A Tewolde, C. Mosconi (Ed.). Wageningen
Academic Publ.

9. PASCUAL J., BLASCO A., HERNANDEZ P., ROSELL, J., VICENTE J. 2007.
Achievements of research in the field of Rabbits. In: Animal production and animal
science worldwide. WAAP Book of the Year 2007. A. Rosati, A Tewolde, C. Mosconi
(Ed.). Wageningen Academic Publ.

10. BASELGA M., BLASCO A. 2008. El BLUP y los métodos bayesianos. Aplicación a la
mejora genética vegetal. En: La adaptación al ambiente y los estreses abióticos en la
mejora vegetal. Ávila, C.M., Atienza, S.G., Moreno, M.T., Cubero, J.I. (Ed.). Junta de
Andalucía.

11. BLASCO A. 2011. Etica y bienestar animal. Akal.

12. BLASCO A. 2012. Animal Breeding: An introduction. In Encyclopedia of Sustainability
Science and Technology. R.A. Meyers (Ed.). Springer.

13. BLASCO A. 2013. Animal ethics. Akal-Amazon.

14. M. PILES, SANTACREU M.A., BLASCO A., SANCHEZ J.P. 2015. Genetics of
Reproduction. In: The genetics of the rabbit. CABI. In press.

15. NAGY I., HERNÁNDEZ P., CURIK I., BLASCO A. 2015. Genetics of growth, carcass
and meat production traits in rabbits. In: The genetics of the rabbit. CABI. In press.
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Published papers in international scientific indexed journals

16. BLASCO, A; BASELGA, M; GARCIA, F. 1983. Análisis fenotípico de caracteres
productivos en el conejo de carne. I. Caracteres de crecimiento. Archivos de
Zootecnia. 123 (32): 111-130.

17. BLASCO, A; BASELGA, M; GARCIA, F. 1983. Análisis fenotípico de caracteres
productivos en el conejo de carne. II. Caracteres de la canal. Archivos de Zootecnia.
124 (32): 205-229.

18. GARCIA, F; BASELGA, M; BLASCO, A. 1984. Análisis fenotípico de los caracteres
productivos en el conejo de carne. III. Caracteres reproductivos. Archivos de
Zootecnia. 126 (33): 111-131.

19. ESTANY, J; BASELGA, M; BLASCO, A. 1986. Criterio de selección en el caso de
conejas evaluadas con información desigual. ITEA, 62: 69-78.

20. BLASCO, A; ESTANY, J; BASELGA, M. 1984. Prediction of meat and bone weight of
rabbit using carcass measurements and sample cuts. Annales de Zootechnie. 33 (2):
161-170.

21. BLASCO, A.; ESTANY, J.; BASELGA, M. 1987. Efectos ambientales en la estimación
de la heredabilidad en una población de conejos. ITEA, 70: 18-22.

22. BLASCO, A. 1990. "Nota sobre el uso de covariables de mayor nivel en la estimación
de la heredabilidad". ITEA. 84:3-6.

23. BLASCO, A.; SORENSEN, D. 1991. Diseños de comparación de líneas, razas o cruces
en especies prolíficas. ITEA vol. 87A n.2-3

24. BLASCO, A; WEBB, A.J. 1989. Genetics of reaction to the halothane exposure.
Animal Production. 49 : 117-121.

25. ESTANY, J; BASELGA, M; BLASCO, A. y CAMACHO, J. 1989. Mixed model
methodology for the estimation of Genetic response to selection in litter size of
rabbits. Livestock Prod. Sci. 21: 67-75.

26. BLASCO, A.; PILES, M. 1990. Muscular pH of the rabbit. Annales de Zootechnie.
39:133-136.

27. SANTACREU, M.A.; VIUDES,P.; BLASCO, A. 1990. Evaluation par coelioscopie des
corps jaunes et des embryons. Influence sur la taille de portée chez la lapine.
Reproduction, Nutrition, Development. 30: 583-588.

28. SANTACREU, M.A.; GOU, P.; BLASCO, A. 1992. Relationships between ovulation rate,
embryo survival and litter size in rabbits. Animal Production 55: 271-276.

29. ESTANY J.; CAMACHO, J.; BASELGA, M.; BLASCO, A. 1992. Selection and genetic
response on growth rate in rabbits for meat production. Génétique, Sélection, Evolution.
24: 527-537.

30. BLASCO, A.; SANTACREU, M.A.; THOMPSON, R.; HALEY, C. 1993. Estimates of
genetic parameters for ovulation rate, prenatal survival and litter size in rabbits from an
elliptical selection experiment. Livestock Prod. Sci. 34: 163-174.
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31. BLASCO, A.; BIDANEL, J.P.; BOLET, G.; HALEY, C.; SANTACREU, M.A. 1993. The
genetics of prenatal survival of pigs and rabbits: a review. Livestock Prod. Sci. 37:1-21.

32. BLASCO, A.; GOMEZ, E. 1993. A note on growth curves of rabbit lines selected on
growth rate or litter size. Anim. Prod. 57:332-334.

33. BLASCO, A.; OUHAYOUN, J.; MASOERO, G. 1993. Harmonization of criteria and
terminology in rabbit meat research. World Rabbit Sci. 1: 3-10.

34. BLASCO, A.; ARGENTE, M.J.; HALEY, C; SANTACREU, M.A. 1994. Relationships
between Components of Litter Size in Hemiovariectomized and Intact Rabbit Does. J of
Anim. Sci. 72: 3066-3072.

35. BLASCO, A.; GOU, P.; GISPERT, M.; ESTANY, J.; SOLER, Q.; DIESTRE, A.; TIBAU, J.
1994. Comparison of five types of pig crosses. I. Growth and Carcass traits. Liv. Prod.
Sci. 40: 171-178.

36. OLIVER, M.A.; GOU, P.; GISPERT, M. DIESTRE, A.; NOGUERA, J.L.; ARNAU, J.;
BLASCO, A. 1994. Comparison of five types of pig crosses. II Meat quality. Liv. Prod. Sci.
40: 179-185.

37. LEE, G.J.; RITCHIE, M.; THOMSON, M.; MACDONALD, A.A.; BLASCO, A .;
SANTACREU, M.A.; ARGENTE, M.J.; HALEY, C.S. 1995. Uterine capacity and prenatal
survival in Meshian and Large White pigs. Anim. Sci. 60: 471-479.

38. BLASCO, A. 1995. Los pesos económicos en mejora genética animal. ITEA. 91A: 59-79.

39. BLASCO, A.; DANDO, P.; GOGUE, J.; BIDANEL, J.P. 1996. Relationships between
ovulation rate, prenatal survival and litter size in French Large White Pigs. Anim. Sci.
63:143-148.

40. PLÁ M., HERNÁNDEZ P., BLASCO A. 1996. Carcass Composition and Meat
Characteristics of two Rabbit Breeds of different Degree of Maturity. Meat Sci 44:85-
92.

41. BLASCO, A.; OUHAYOUN, J. 1996. Harmonization of criteria and terminology in rabbit
meat research. Revised proposal. World Rabbit Sci. 4: 93- 99.

42. HERNÁNDEZ P., PLÁ M., BLASCO A. 1996. Prediction of carcass composition in
rabbit. Meat Sci. 44:75-83.

43. OLIVER M.A., GUERRERO L., DIAZ I., GISPERT M., PLA M. y BLASCO A. 1997. The
effect of Fat-enriched diets on the perirenal fat quality and sensory characteristics of
meat from rabbits. Meat Sci. 47 (1/2) : 95-103.

44. ARGENTE M.J., SANTACREU M.A., CLIMENT A., BLASCO A., BOLET G. 1997.
Divergent selection for uterine efficiency in rabbits. J. of Anim. Sci. 75: 2350 - 2354.

45. HERNANDEZ P., PLA M., BLASCO A. 1997. Relationships of Meat Characteristics of
Two Lines of Rabbits Selected for Litter Size and Growth Rate. J. of Anim. Sci. 75: 2936-
2941.

46. BLASCO A. 1998. La controversia bayesiana en Mejora Animal. ITEA. 94A: 5-41.