Breeding in Animals

Animal husbandry is practised over centuries to aid in human welfare. The most frequently used animals are cattle, sheep, goats, swine and in birds’ turkey, geese, hens and ducks. The main objective of animal husbandry has always been to create a good impression on the produce of animals in terms of both quantity and quality. Techniques are used to fulfil the former. Here the article discusses cross breeding in animals, techniques and procedures, treatment of problems and the natural breeding process. Nevertheless, animal husbandry has always been a productive industry despite some fluctuations.

Types of breeding in animals

Maily there are two types of breeding:

1. INBREEDING
2. OUTBREEDING

Inbreeding: – Mating of related individuals within the same breed. Inbreeding is mainly used to create genetic uniformity or say to create purelines, to create stocks. A major demerit in practice of inbreeding is INBREEDING DEPRESSION, that lowers down reproductive efficiency and viability in the progeny over generations. Two types of inbreeding practised are: –

1. Close breeding: – Most intensive breeding where animals are closely related and can be traced back to one common ancestor. 
2. Line breeding: – This type of breeding meant mating of more distantly related animals but they can be traced back to their one common ancestor.

Outbreeding: – a system of mating unrelated animals. It basically involves genetic modifications which leads to greater performance in quantity and quality. Two types of outbreeding practised are: –

1. Crossbreeding: – mating of animals of different breeds. Progeny obtained is the superior one due to the selection process in crossbreeding.
2. Grading up: – Breeding of unrelated animals where one is indigenous and the other is a better and purely bred for numerous generations . In order to gain the superior physical and character traits of the now bettered breed. 

Cross breeding in animals

Cross breeding, a subpart of Outbreeding, is mating of two animals of different breeds. The progeny in crossbreeding is aimed to obtain as the superior one as both the parents are taken to be the superior one. Crossbreeding in comparison to inbreeding is advantageous as there is variation in the genetic constitution of the animal thus having superior qualities as compared to purelines. Aim of crossbreeding is mainly on an overview basis is:

1. To increase animal yield
2. To improve the desirable quality of animal produce
3. To produce disease resistant varieties of animals.

The main question now arises, that if animals can reproduce well and their yield and population is on a good score then what’s the need of genetic interference? The answer to the question is to increase hybrid qualities to aid in fitness, fertility and survival of animals. Variations in genetic constitution is the only way to achieve great produce which is accomplished by crossbreeding.

Although it has many advantages but it’s also comes with demerits as in: –

1. Weakness of the parent breed also inherits in the progeny which is the main disadvantage.
2. Size of an adult is indeterminate.
3. Strong probability of high-risk deliveries
4. Development of congenital health issues.

Talking about economic welfare, crossbreeding is indeed a good option to be chosen for increasing yield and wealth. The main advantage of crossbreed fowls over indigenous breeds is that they exhibit strengths of all breeds from which they descend. In poultry, crossbreeding tends to improve egg hatching, viability of chickens, rate of growth and egg production. In cattle farming, crossbreeding increases beef production, calf survival, maternal ability, growth of young animals, longevity, etc.

Treatment of repeat breeding in animals

Repeat breeder animal is an animal that has regular estrous cycles. It does not possess any palpable clinical abnormalities. It is less than 10 years of age and has calved once and has failed to conceive despite consecutive inseminations.

Possible treatments for repeat breeding animal is:

1. Bolstering the estrous detection: – The estrous phenomenon should be detected earlier as it is essential to keep animals from becoming repeat breeders. These animals should stay under observation for at least 30 mins 3 times a day for signs of heat.
2.  Providing GnRH during insemination: – GnRH are synthetic hormones which copy the hormone responsible for releasing gonadotropin . It is given through injections at the estrous detection and earlier than insemination. It helps in reducing RBS.
3. Nutrition: – Taking specialised care regarding the animal’s nutrition for dry, transition and new period in order to maintain the best body condition of the animal. 

Natural breeding in animals

 Natural breeding in animals refers to the random mating that occurs between two individuals of the same species. Advantages of natural breeding in animals over artificial insemination is that it can reduce the need for heat detection. Disadvantage of natural breeding in animals is that herd bulls have to be fed all year. They have to be vaccinated and treated for parasites and their semen must be evaluated. 

Conclusion: 

Animal breeding is an intensive procedure that requires care, maintenance, and discipline to be adopted by the farmer to yield a good produce in terms of quality and quantity. Apart from natural mating procedures, there are several techniques of artificially producing progenies to suit their needs. They are inbreeding, which involves mating of related animals whereas outbreeding involves mating of unrelated animals to produce genetic variations. Advantages and disadvantages lay in both the techniques. Apart from techniques, good care, nutrition and treatment to all sorts of problems are also needed to maintain a good animal husbandry farm.