Animal Breeding and Genetics

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 and 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.

Contents: 1. Brief history of population genetics. 2. Domestication of livestock species. 3. Classification of livestock breeds. 4. Economic characters of livestock and poultry. 5. Basic statistics. 6. Qualitative and quantitative inheritance. 7. Gene and genotype frequency and factors influencing gene frequency. 8. Variation and measurements. 9. Values and means of population. 10. Heritability – methods of estimation and use. 11. Correlations. 12. Selection – natural vs artificial selection. 13. Response to selection. 14. Basis of selection. 15. Methods of selection. 16. Open nucleus breeding system. 17. Methods of sire evaluation. 18. Breeding or mating systems. 19. Heterosis or hybrid vigor. 20. Selection of dairy cattle and buffaloes. 21. Current livestock and poultry breeding programmes. 22. Conservation of genetic resources in India.