Animal breeding: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 06:44, 16 February 2025

Animal Breeding[edit]

Animal breeding is the selective mating of animals to increase the possibility of obtaining desired traits in the offspring. It is a branch of animal husbandry and genetics that involves the application of genetic principles to improve the productivity and quality of animals.

History[edit]

The practice of animal breeding dates back to the domestication of animals. Early humans selected animals with desirable traits for breeding, leading to the development of various domesticated animals. Over time, this practice became more systematic and scientific, especially with the advent of Mendelian genetics in the 19th century.

Principles of Animal Breeding[edit]

Animal breeding relies on several key principles:

Selection[edit]

Selection involves choosing animals with desirable traits to be parents of the next generation. This can be based on phenotypic traits, such as size or milk production, or on genetic information obtained through genetic testing.

Mating Systems[edit]

Different mating systems are used in animal breeding, including:

Inbreeding: Mating of closely related animals to increase the uniformity of the offspring.
Outbreeding: Mating of unrelated animals to increase genetic diversity.
Crossbreeding: Mating of animals from different breeds to combine desirable traits from both.

Genetic Improvement[edit]

Genetic improvement involves the use of quantitative genetics to predict the breeding value of animals. This helps in selecting animals that will contribute positively to the genetic makeup of the population.

Applications[edit]

Animal breeding is applied in various fields, including:

Livestock Production[edit]

In livestock production, animal breeding is used to improve traits such as growth rate, feed efficiency, and disease resistance. This leads to more efficient and sustainable production of meat, milk, and eggs.

Companion Animals[edit]

Breeding of companion animals focuses on traits such as temperament, size, and coat color. This is particularly important in the breeding of dogs and cats.

Conservation[edit]

Animal breeding also plays a role in the conservation of endangered species. By managing the genetic diversity of captive populations, breeding programs can help maintain healthy and viable populations.

Challenges[edit]

Animal breeding faces several challenges, including:

Ethical Concerns: The welfare of animals in breeding programs is a major concern, especially in intensive breeding systems.
Genetic Disorders: Inbreeding can lead to an increase in genetic disorders, which can affect the health and viability of the animals.
Environmental Impact: The environmental impact of intensive animal breeding and production systems is a growing concern.

Related Pages[edit]

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-'''Animal breeding''' is a branch of [[animal science]] that addresses the evaluation (using [[best linear unbiased prediction]] and other methods) of the [[genetic value]] (estimated breeding value, EBV) of livestock. Selecting for breeding animals with superior EBV in growth rate, egg, meat, milk, or wool production, or with other desirable traits has revolutionized livestock production throughout the entire world. The scientific theory of animal breeding incorporates [[population genetics]], [[quantitative genetics]], [[statistics]], and recently [[molecular genetics]] and is based on the pioneering work of Sewall Wright, Jay Lush, and Charles Henderson.
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:Animal Breeding}}
+== Animal Breeding ==
+[[File:Meat_Atlas_2014_breeders.png|thumb|right|Diagram illustrating various animal breeds.]]
+'''Animal breeding''' is the selective mating of animals to increase the possibility of obtaining desired traits in the offspring. It is a branch of [[animal husbandry]] and [[genetics]] that involves the application of genetic principles to improve the productivity and quality of animals.
 == History ==
+The practice of animal breeding dates back to the domestication of animals. Early humans selected animals with desirable traits for breeding, leading to the development of various [[domesticated animals]]. Over time, this practice became more systematic and scientific, especially with the advent of [[Mendelian genetics]] in the 19th century.
-The domestication of livestock was driven by the need to have food on hand when hunting was unproductive. The desirable (but possibly, at first, accidental) discovery of the ability of a few animals to be controlled for the purposes of providing food and other products led to the eventual breeding of domesticated animals. Through breeding, different species of animals have been developed that produce a large amount of meat, milk, or other valuable products or services.
+== Principles of Animal Breeding ==
+Animal breeding relies on several key principles:
-== Modern animal breeding ==
-Modern animal breeding relies on the science of [[genetics]]. With the knowledge of genetics, animal breeders can accurately predict the results of different mating combinations. There is also a science to the selection of animals for breeding, known as [[animal selection]]. Animal breeders use principles of genetics and knowledge of the inheritance of traits to make informed decisions about the animals they choose for breeding.
+=== Selection ===
+Selection involves choosing animals with desirable traits to be parents of the next generation. This can be based on phenotypic traits, such as size or milk production, or on genetic information obtained through [[genetic testing]].
-== Breeding methods ==
+=== Mating Systems ===
+Different mating systems are used in animal breeding, including:
+* '''Inbreeding''': Mating of closely related animals to increase the uniformity of the offspring.
+* '''Outbreeding''': Mating of unrelated animals to increase genetic diversity.
+* '''Crossbreeding''': Mating of animals from different breeds to combine desirable traits from both.
-There are several methods used in animal breeding. These include:
+=== Genetic Improvement ===
+Genetic improvement involves the use of [[quantitative genetics]] to predict the breeding value of animals. This helps in selecting animals that will contribute positively to the genetic makeup of the population.
-* '''[[Inbreeding]]''': This is the mating of closely related animals. This method can increase the chances of an animal inheriting desirable traits, but it can also increase the risk of inheriting harmful traits.
+== Applications ==
+Animal breeding is applied in various fields, including:
-* '''[[Outbreeding]]''': This is the mating of unrelated animals. This method can increase the genetic diversity of a population, which can make it more resilient to changes in the environment.
+=== Livestock Production ===
+In [[livestock]] production, animal breeding is used to improve traits such as growth rate, feed efficiency, and disease resistance. This leads to more efficient and sustainable production of meat, milk, and eggs.
-* '''[[Crossbreeding]]''': This is the mating of animals from different breeds. This method can result in offspring that have the desirable traits of both parent breeds.
+=== Companion Animals ===
+Breeding of [[companion animals]] focuses on traits such as temperament, size, and coat color. This is particularly important in the breeding of [[dogs]] and [[cats]].
-* '''[[Selective breeding]]''': This is the selection of animals for breeding based on their traits. This method can result in a population of animals that have a high frequency of desirable traits.
+=== Conservation ===
+Animal breeding also plays a role in the conservation of endangered species. By managing the genetic diversity of captive populations, breeding programs can help maintain healthy and viable populations.
-== See also ==
+== Challenges ==
+Animal breeding faces several challenges, including:
+* '''Ethical Concerns''': The welfare of animals in breeding programs is a major concern, especially in intensive breeding systems.
+* '''Genetic Disorders''': Inbreeding can lead to an increase in genetic disorders, which can affect the health and viability of the animals.
+* '''Environmental Impact''': The environmental impact of intensive animal breeding and production systems is a growing concern.
+== Related Pages ==
 * [[Genetics]]
-* [[Animal science]]
+* [[Animal husbandry]]
-* [[Animal selection]]
+* [[Livestock]]
-* [[Inbreeding]]
+* [[Domestication]]
-* [[Outbreeding]]
-* [[Crossbreeding]]
-* [[Selective breeding]]
 [[Category:Animal breeding]]
 [[Category:Genetics]]
-[[Category:Animal science]]
+[[Category:Animal husbandry]]
-{{stub}}