ANIMAL GENETICS & BREEDING

UNIT – III
Principles of Animal Breeding
Theory

Introduction to Animal Breeding

Dr K G Mandal
Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding
Bihar Veterinary College, Patna
Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna
 Text Book & reference Book
1. “Animal Breeding Plan “ by Prof. Jay L. Lush

2. “Text Book of Animal Breeding” by S. S. Tomar

3. “Breeding & Improvement of Farm Animals”

by Warwick and Legates

4. “Genetics of Livestock Improvement” by J F Lasley

5. “Genetics and Breeding of Farm animals”

by D. P. Mukherjee & G. C. Banerjee

1. Introduction to the subject
2. Objective / Importance
3. Origin – historical perspective
4. Breeding system / Breeding methodology
(i) Random mating
(ii) Assortative mating
(iii) Inbreeding
(iv) Outbreeding
 Introduction to Animal Breeding
 What is Breeding ?
Application of principles of genetics and
population genetics in particular by using
biometric techniques for genetic improvement
of plant or animal is known as breeding.
 Plant Breeding
 Animal Breeding
 Poultry Breeding
 Historical perspective of Animal Breeding
• Chronological events:
1. Robert Bakewell (1760), popularly known as the Founder of
Animal Breeding, worked on Thorough bred horse, Shorthorn
cattle and Leicester sheep in his farm at Dishley, England
and became successful in animal breeding.
He developed certain theories, tested them with experiment
and laid down the following principles:
(i) Like begets like – this has led to development of pedigree
breeding.
(ii) Selected males if they transmitted desirable traits –
this has led to the development of progeny testing.
 (iii) Bred the best to the best irrespective of genetic
relationship. This has led to the development of inbreeding
and pure breeding stock.
The greatest contribution of Robert Bakewell to breeding
methods was that he appreciated inbreeding as the most
effective tool to produce refinement in the breed.
2. Spallanzani (1780) for the first time successfully
demonstrated AI in dog.
3. Hunter (1799) successfully produced pregnancy in
women through AI.
Added for development of AH at a faster rate and
formation of “Purebred Breed Association”.
4. Formation of Breed Association & introduction of herd
book:
First herd book was “An introduction to the general Stud
Book” for Thorough bred horse was started in the year
1791.
The second herd book was Shorthorn herd book published in
1822.
5. Introduction of pure breeding in India : 1950 – 1964
6. Cross Breeding was the major policy with pure breeding
in original tract 1964 – 1997.
7. Father of Animal Breeding – Prof Jay L Lush.
 Breeding System

Random mating Non-random mating

Based on phenotypic resemblance Based on Genetic

(Assortative mating) relationship
Positive Negative

Inbreeding Outbreeding

Close breeding Line breeding

Breeding System / Breeding Methodology:
A. Random mating: When each and every individual has equal chance of
mating with any one individual of opposite sex in a population is known
as random mating. It is also known as panmixia. Breeder has no choice
in selection of mated individual.
B. Non-random mating:
(i) Based on phenotypic resemblance :
Assortative mating: Like to like mating.
(a) Positive assortative mating
(b) Negative assortative mating
(ii) Based on genetic resemblance:
(a) Inbreeding
(b) Outbreeding
Inbreeding: Mating of individuals which are more
closely related to each other than the average
relationship of the population concerned.
Related individuals: Two individuals are said to be
related if they have common ancestor in the
preceding 4 – 6 generations of their pedigree.
Ancestor: An individual which transmits its genetic
material to the descendants.
Descendant: An individual who receives some of its
genetic material from the ancestor.
Common ancestor: Individual who transmits its genetic materials to the
inbred through sire’s and dam’s pedigree of the inbred individual is
known as common ancestor.
Inbred: The individual which is produced by mating of relatives is
known as inbred.
Pedigree: Systematic list of all ancestors to which an individual is
genetically related.
Application of pedigree:
(i) To estimate breeding value based on pedigree record.
(ii) To facilitate early selection based on pedigree record.
(iii) To estimate genetic parameter
(iv) To formulate breeding plan
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