History of Animal Breeding

Question 1

what is genetics?

Answer 1

the science of dealing with heredity and variation seeking to discover laws governing similarities and differences in individuals related by descent

Question 2

what is animal genetics?

Answer 2

the study of the principles of inheritance in animals

Question 3

what is animal breeding?

Answer 3

the application of the principles of animal genetics with the goal of improvement of animals

Question 4

how did animal breeding start?

Answer 4

with the domestication of animals, unintentional breeding

Question 5

what was selected for in early animal breeding?

Answer 5

more tractable animals

Question 6

what does better performance mean?

Answer 6

better adaptation to environment

Question 7

what is the purpose of animal breeding

Answer 7

genetically improve the economic efficiency of livestock production (more with less)

Question 8

what is the main tool in genetic improvement of economic merit?

Answer 8

SELECTION

Question 9

who is known as the Father of Animal Breeding?

Answer 9

Robert Bakewell

Question 10

what is the purebred concept and who came up with it?

Answer 10

Robert Bakewell, separate, interbreeding populations to preserve genes, no mixing or crossing

Question 11

what 3 things did Bakewell contribute to animal breeding today?

Answer 11

1. the process of setting goals
2. early bull progeny test
3. the record system

Question 12

what is the bull progeny test?

Answer 12

evaluating the performance of daughters to determine sire value

Question 13

what did the development of the record system do for animal breeding?

Answer 13

quicker progress

Question 14

what are sex-limited traits? give an example

Answer 14

traits where the sire’s performance can only be evaluated by daughters; milk yield

Question 15

how long does the bull progeny test take and why?

Answer 15

4 years, because bulls, dams, and heifers must to mature to breed and then be evaluated

Question 16

due to animal breeding, how much has milk yield increased in the dairy industry?

Answer 16

4x

Question 17

due to animal breeding, how has the swine industry improved?

Answer 17

transition from lard to lean fat

Question 18

due to animal breeding, how much has volume, weight, and value of wool increased in the sheep industry?

Answer 18

4x

Question 19

due to animal breeding, how much has the broiler poultry industry improved?

Answer 19

broilers only take 6-7 weeks to develop

Question 20

due to animal breeding, how much has the layer poultry industry improved?

Answer 20

the average clutch for a hen is 300 eggs/year

Question 21

due to animal breeding, how has the horse industry improved?

Answer 21

not much lol

Question 22

due to animal breeding, how much have cats and dogs improved?

Answer 22

too much, we did way too much

Question 23

how do animals change?

Answer 23

SELECTION

Question 24

what are the 2 types of selection?

Answer 24

1. natural: survival of the fittest

2. artificial: our choice

Question 25

list and describe the 6 factors of natural selection

Answer 25

1. strength: fight off predators
2. size: small to hide or big to fight
3. intelligence: smort :)
4. color: camoflauge
5. horns/weapons: defense
6. longevity: contribute to next generation

Question 26

what are the 3 mechanisms of artificial selection?

Answer 26

1. genetic
2. environment
3. genetic engineering techniques: transgenic, transgene

Question 27

give an example of genetic engineering in human medicine

Answer 27

insulin goats, molecule PHarming

Question 28

what are the 4 advantages of artificial selection?

Answer 28

1. genetic worth determined
2. rapid spread of genetics
3. facilitate complex breeding systems
4. can use genetic material after death

Question 29

what is the level of AI use and phenotypic change in the dairy industry?

Answer 29

high, high

Question 30

what is the level of AI use and phenotypic change in the beef industry?

Answer 30

low/moderate, low

Question 31

what is the level of AI use and phenotypic change in the poultry and swine industry?

Answer 31

high, high

Question 32

why is the level of phenotypic change through AI high in poultry and swine vs beef and horses?

Answer 32

1. number of offspring per gestation
2. number of offspring per year
3. age at puberty

Question 33

why does the dairy have a high level of phenotypic change from AI use?

Answer 33

1. selection for few traits
2. maintain performance records
3. use records to select superior sires
4. AI = spread of superior genetics

Question 34

why does the beef industry have a low level of phenotypic change through AI use?

Answer 34

1. limited records
2. limited selection
3. many traits under selection: growth, ADG’s, carcass traits, fertility traits, etc.
4. limited AI use

Question 35

what does selection do to the mean?

Answer 35

moves it up and away from previous generations

Question 36

what are the 3 major events that led directly to the development of modern genetics in the mid 1800’s?

Answer 36

1. Darwin publishing “Origin of Species”
2. Mendel laying out his theory of genetics
3. Friedrich Mieschner isolating nucleic acid from pus cells

Question 37

what is alkaptonuria?

Answer 37

one of the first genetic diseases discovered; when the body can’t break down homogentistic acid, which leads to dark urine, passes from parent to offspring

Question 38

what is in vitro?

Answer 38

in a test tube, in a lab

Question 39

what is in vivo?

Answer 39

in body of an animal

Question 40

what is in sacco?

Answer 40

in plastic bags; digestion