Introduction to Animal Breeding Flashcards
Genetic gain is:
the amount of improvement from one generation to the next
The three areas of genetics are:
Mendelian, Populational, and Quantitative
Who is the founder of animal breeding?
Sir Robert Bakewell
Who is the father of genetics?
Gregor Mendel
Who is the father of MODERN animal breeding?
Jay L. Lush
True or False. The goal of animal breeding and genetic gain is to increase the individual’s average.
False. The population’s average needs to improve. Not individual.
Mating can be defined as:
Selecting which male to be bred to which female
Population can be defined as:
A group of intermating individuals
What is the importance of a breeding goal?
To specify which desired traits want to be improved by the producer
A trait is:
An observable/measurable characterstic
Examples of traits are: A) Horns/polled B) Coat color C) Weaning weight D) A and B E) B and C
E) B and C
A phenotype is defined as:
Any observed category or measured level of performance for a trait.
Examples of phenotypes are: A) Horned B) Red hair C) Calving ease D) A and C E) A and B
E) A and B
What is the BASIC breeding equation? (hint: for phenotype)
P = G + E
True or False. Animal breeding and reproduction are the same
False!
Seedstock productions provide:
The best genetics
Commercial producers:
Drive breeding objectives
Define animal breeding:
The process of selective breeding of domestic animals to improve desirable (and heritable) qualities in the next generation
Who created the term breeding values?
Charles R. Henderson
What are the two key words of animal breeding?
Selection and Mating
Define Selection:
Determining which individuals become parents, for how long they stay in the breeding herd, and the number of offspring they will have
What are the two kinds of selection?
Natural and Artificial
True or False. Artificial selection is humans selecting the parents by culling and displacement selection
False! Humans use culling and REPLACEMENT selection
Define Mating:
Determining which (selected) male will be bred to which (selected) female
Define population:
A group of intermating individuals of the same species
Define Trait:
Any measurable/observable feature
Where does gene flow begin in the breeding structure pyramid?
At the nucleus/seedstockers
Who drives breeding objectives in the beef cattle industry?
The bottom or producers/farmers/commercial operations
What is a breeding goal?
Specification of traits to be improved including the emphasis given to each trait
What are the 6 steps in the breeding cycle/program?
- The production system
- The breeding goal
- Data/phenotypes collection
- Selection
- Dissemination/spreading genes
- Evaluation
_________ and __________ are the two main concepts of animal breeding and are used to improve the _____________ of the selected herd animal(s).
Selection. Mating. Population.
What are possible phenotypes for the trait of eye color?
Green, blue, brown, hazel
What are possible phenotypes of the trait of coat color?
Black, red, roan, grey (at least for cattle)
True/False: All animals perform equally
False!
Gene by environment interaction is
the difference in the average performance of 2 different genotypes is different in 2 different environment
What is the “new” breeding equation?
P= G+E+(G*E)
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.
FALSE! Genetic potential is the highest level of performance in the ABSENCE of stress and all their requirements
The value of an individual as a (genetic) parent is…
Breeding Value
Any observed category or measured level of performance for a trait is…
Phenotype
