Animal Breeding: A Comprehensive Overview

Definition

Animal breeding is a branch of animal science that involves the evaluation and controlled propagation of domestic animals to improve desirable qualities.

Types of Selection

Animal breeding involves various types of selection, including:

• Individual or mass selection
• Within and between family selection
• Sibling selection
• Progeny testing

These methods allow breeders to identify and breed animals with the most desirable traits.

History

Humans have been modifying domesticated animals for centuries to better suit their needs, such as providing food, companionship, and labor.

Animal breeding involves the mating of animals from different breeds, crossbreeding, and the use of genetic technologies to create new and improved animal varieties.

It has been performed with almost all domesticated animals, but is particularly common in cats, cattle, dogs, horses, and pigs.