Animal Breeding

The determination of when, how, how often and with whom an animal breeds is moving rapidly away from evolutionary pressures and towards human purposes: these include the breeding of around 50 billion mammals and birds for food production annually, the breeding of pedigree dogs and cats, racing dogs and horses, specialised laboratory animal strains and the use of reproductive science to conserve endangered species or breeds and to limit unwanted populations of pests and non-native species. But the ethics and sustainability of this takeover of animals' reproductive lives have been insufficiently examined by either professionals or the public. This book discusses the methods, the motivations and the consequences of human intervention in animal breeding in terms of animal health, behaviour and well-being. It explores where we are now and the choices ahead, and looks to a future where we have more respect for animals as sentient beings and where we could loosen the reins of reproductive control.

This book fills the gap between textbooks of quantitative genetic theory, and software manuals that provide details on analytical methods but little context or perspective on which methods may be most appropriate for a particular application. Accordingly this book is composed of two sections. The first section (Chapters 1 to 8) covers topics of classical phenotypic data analysis for prediction of breeding values in animal and plant breeding programs. In the second section (Chapters 9 to 13) we provide the concept and overall review of available tools for using DNA markers for predictions of genetic merits in breeding populations. With advances in DNA sequencing technologies, genomic data, especially single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, have become available for animal and plant breeding programs in recent years. Analysis of DNA markers for prediction of genetic merit is a relatively new and active research area. The algorithms and software to implement these algorithms are changing rapidly. This section represents state-of-the-art knowledge on the tools and technologies available for genetic analysis of plants and animals. However, readers should be aware that the methods or statistical packages covered here may not be available or they might be out of date in a few years. Ultimately the book is intended for professional breeders interested in utilizing these tools and approaches in their breeding programs. Lastly, we anticipate the usage of this volume for advanced level graduate courses in agricultural and breeding courses.

First published in 1943, “Animal Breeding Plans” contains a detailed guide on animal breeding designed for students with experience of genetics, embryology, breeds, and stock judging. It aims to furnish the reader with a clear understanding of the means available for improving the heredity of farm animals, especially what each possible method will or will not do well. Highly recommended for modern farmers and animal breeders. Contents include: “Origin and Domestication of Farm Animals”, “Consequences of Domestication”, “Beginning of Pedigree Breeding Methods in the United States”, “History of Animal Breeding Methods in the United States”, “Relation of the Breed Association to Breed Improvement”, “Genetic Principles in Animal Breeding”, “Mendelian Basis of Inheritance”, etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. It is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially-commissioned new introduction on farming.

This important book covers economic evaluation of genetic differences in animals, determination of breeding goals within an economic context and economic evaluation of breeding programs. During the last 50 years there have been great advances made in the breeding of domesticated animal species. Most of this work has been achieved through the efforts of geneticists, and often the economic goals of such advances have not been clearly evaluated. Economic Aspects of Animal Breeding redresses the balance and provides a much needed synthesis of this most important subject. The book is divided into five sections: basic concepts; economic evaluation of genetic differences; advanced topics in selection indices; economic evaluation of breeding programs, including biotechnological aspects; crossbreeding and heterosis.

This text part offers a review of the research and developing technologies in the expanding areas of genetics, embryology, and molecular biology from experts in the various fields. It includes sections covering manipulation of the embryo, and the mapping and engineering of the genome, as well as information on nuclear transfer and the development of xenotransplantation. Possibilities for future research and development are also considered.

In Masterminding Nature, Margaret Derry examines the evolution of modern animal breeding from the invention of improved breeding methodologies in eighteenth-century England to the application of molecular genetics in the 1980s and 1990s. A clear and concise introduction to the science and practice of artificial selection, Derry’s book puts the history of breeding in its scientific, commercial, and social context. Masterminding Nature explains why animal breeders continued to use eighteenth-century techniques well into the twentieth century, why the chicken industry was the first to use genetics in its breeding programs, and why it was the dairy cattle industry that embraced quantitative genetics and artificial insemination in the 1970s, as well as answering many other questions. Following the story right up to the present, the book concludes with an insightful analysis of today’s complex relationships between biology, industry, and ethics.

This book attempts to describe applied breeding methods for different domestic animal species as currently implemented. In this book, brief history of population genetics, domestication of livestock species, classification of breeds, economic characteristics of different livestock species & poultry and their importance, basic statistics, qualitative and quantitative inheritance, gene and genotype frequency and factors influencing gene frequency, values and means of population, methods of estimation and uses of heritability and repeatability, correlations, selection, response to selection, basis of selection, progeny testing, open nucleus breeding system, sire evaluation, methods of selection, breeding or mating systems, heterosis or hybrid vigor definitions and current livestock and poultry breeding programmes have been discussed in different chapters. The subject matter has been dealt with in a logical sequence so that the reader is conveyed from simple to more complex interpretation with relative ease. It is felt that the reader which are likely to comprise mostly of graduate and post graduate student of animal breeding and researcher will be able to get a deeper insight and better perceptions into the realm of the dynamic science of animal breeding.

This text part offers a review of the research and developing technologies in the expanding areas of genetics, embryology, and molecular biology from experts in the various fields. It includes sections covering manipulation of the embryo, and the mapping and engineering of the genome, as well as information on nuclear transfer and the development of xenotransplantation. Possibilities for future research and development are also considered.