Introduction to Animal Breeding

Question 1

Genetic gain is:

Answer 1

the amount of improvement from one generation to the next

Question 2

The three areas of genetics are:

Answer 2

Mendelian, Populational, and Quantitative

Question 3

Who is the founder of animal breeding?

Answer 3

Sir Robert Bakewell

Question 4

Who is the father of genetics?

Answer 4

Gregor Mendel

Question 5

Who is the father of MODERN animal breeding?

Answer 5

Jay L. Lush

Question 6

True or False. The goal of animal breeding and genetic gain is to increase the individual’s average.

Answer 6

False. The population’s average needs to improve. Not individual.

Question 7

Mating can be defined as:

Answer 7

Selecting which male to be bred to which female

Question 8

Population can be defined as:

Answer 8

A group of intermating individuals

Question 9

What is the importance of a breeding goal?

Answer 9

To specify which desired traits want to be improved by the producer

Question 10

A trait is:

Answer 10

An observable/measurable characterstic

Question 11

Examples of traits are:
A) Horns/polled
B) Coat color
C) Weaning weight
D) A and B
E) B and C

Answer 11

E) B and C

Question 12

A phenotype is defined as:

Answer 12

Any observed category or measured level of performance for a trait.

Question 13

Examples of phenotypes are:
A) Horned
B) Red hair
C) Calving ease
D) A and C
E) A and B

Answer 13

E) A and B

Question 14

What is the BASIC breeding equation? (hint: for phenotype)

Answer 14

P = G + E

Question 15

True or False. Animal breeding and reproduction are the same

Answer 15

False!

Question 16

Seedstock productions provide:

Answer 16

The best genetics

Question 17

Commercial producers:

Answer 17

Drive breeding objectives

Question 18

Define animal breeding:

Answer 18

The process of selective breeding of domestic animals to improve desirable (and heritable) qualities in the next generation

Question 19

Who created the term breeding values?

Answer 19

Charles R. Henderson

Question 20

What are the two key words of animal breeding?

Answer 20

Selection and Mating

Question 21

Define Selection:

Answer 21

Determining which individuals become parents, for how long they stay in the breeding herd, and the number of offspring they will have

Question 22

What are the two kinds of selection?

Answer 22

Natural and Artificial

Question 23

True or False. Artificial selection is humans selecting the parents by culling and displacement selection

Answer 23

False! Humans use culling and REPLACEMENT selection

Question 24

Define Mating:

Answer 24

Determining which (selected) male will be bred to which (selected) female

Question 25

Define population:

Answer 25

A group of intermating individuals of the same species

Question 26

Define Trait:

Answer 26

Any measurable/observable feature

Question 27

Where does gene flow begin in the breeding structure pyramid?

Answer 27

At the nucleus/seedstockers

Question 28

Who drives breeding objectives in the beef cattle industry?

Answer 28

The bottom or producers/farmers/commercial operations

Question 29

What is a breeding goal?

Answer 29

Specification of traits to be improved including the emphasis given to each trait

Question 30

What are the 6 steps in the breeding cycle/program?

Answer 30

- The production system - The breeding goal - Data/phenotypes collection - Selection - Dissemination/spreading genes - Evaluation

Question 31

_________ and __________ are the two main concepts of animal breeding and are used to improve the _____________ of the selected herd animal(s).

Answer 31

Selection. Mating. Population.

Question 32

What are possible phenotypes for the trait of eye color?

Answer 32

Green, blue, brown, hazel

Question 33

What are possible phenotypes of the trait of coat color?

Answer 33

Black, red, roan, grey (at least for cattle)

Question 34

True/False: All animals perform equally

Answer 34

False!

Question 35

Gene by environment interaction is

Answer 35

the difference in the average performance of 2 different genotypes is different in 2 different environment

Question 36

What is the "new" breeding equation?

Answer 36

P= G+E+(G*E)

Question 37

True or False: Genetic potential is the highest level of performance that the genetic group could achieve in the presence of environmental stress and all their nutritional requirements.

Answer 37

FALSE! Genetic potential is the highest level of performance in the ABSENCE of stress and all their requirements

Question 38

The value of an individual as a (genetic) parent is...

Answer 38

Breeding Value

Question 39

Any observed category or measured level of performance for a trait is...

Answer 39

Phenotype