Overview

Animal breeding and genetics is the branch of science concerned with maximizing desirable genetic traits in domesticated animals. The study of animal genetics involves topics such as gene expression, color genetics and animal breeding. Animal genetics focuses on various aspects of animal heredity, or the passing of traits from one generation to the next. The field encompasses topics such as genetic variability, genetic testing, and animal breeding. Animal geneticists have identified elements within genes that can enhance animal growth, health, and ability to utilize nutrients. These genetic advances can increase production while reducing environmental impacts. Animals and livestock contribute 40 percent of the global value of agricultural output and contribute to the livelihoods and food security of almost a billion people worldwide. Advances in animal breeding, genetics, and genomics are facilitating a more efficient industry. For example, the number of cattle has decreased over the past decade, yet the total production of beef and milk has increased. This was largely possible because genetic advancements led better animal feed efficiency, which is critical to improving livestock production and lowering costs for producers. When breeding is between animals of the same breed for 4-6 generations, it is called inbreeding. Inbreeding may be explained by taking an example of cows and bulls. Superior cows and superior bulls of the same breed are identified and mated. The progeny obtained from such mating are evaluated and superior males and females are identified for further mating. A superior female, in the case of cattle, is the cow that produces more milk per lactation. Thus inbreeding is necessary to develop a pure line in any animal. Inbreeding exposes harmful recessive genes that are eliminated by selection. It also helps in accumulation of superior genes and elimination of less desirable genes. Out breeding is the breeding between the unrelated animals which may be between individuals of the same breed (but having no common ancestors) or between different breeds (cross breeding) or different species (interspecific hybridization).

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9781680945911

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Nada Ben Abdallah graduated from the University of Zurich in 2010 and holds a PhD in neuroscience. Her research focuses on elucidating the processes of learning and memory as well as the affective processes and their underlying neural mechanisms. Her work so far involved normal and diseased animal models with a main interest in neurodegenerative diseases. She is currently working as a freelance researcher and science editor.

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