9. Animal breeding

Animal breeding involves producing improved breeds of domesticated animals by improving their genotypes through selective mating.

  

 

Animal breeding improves the genotypes of domesticated animals. The main objectives of animals breeding are:

 

a. Improved growth rate

 

b. Increased production or increased yield of milk, egg, meat, wool etc. To improve the desirable traits that enhance the yield.

 

c. Superior quality of milk, egg, meat, wool etc.

 

d. Improved resistance to the different types of diseases.

 

e. Increased productive life and reproduction rate.

 

 

There are two methods of animal breeding. These include:

 

i. Inbreeding - When breeding takes place between animals of the same breed, it is called inbreeding.

  

ii. Outbreeding - The cross between different breeds is called outbreeding. 

The superior males and females of the same breed are identified and mated in pairs. It aids in the accumulation of superior genes and the elimination of undesirable genes.

 

Inbreeding increases homozygosity and is adopted to develop a pureline.

  

 

When continued for prolonged periods, inbreeding has a negative impact on fertility and productivity. It exposes the harmful recessive genes, which are eliminated through selection. When inbreeding depression occurs, the selected animals of the breeding population must be mated with superior animals of the same breed but unrelated to the breeding population. This helps in restoring fertility and yield.