What is the process of choosing specific animals to reproduce based on desired traits called?

The process of choosing specific animals to reproduce based on desired traits is known as selective breeding. This practice involves intentionally mating animals that possess traits deemed desirable and beneficial to enhance these characteristics in future generations.

Selective breeding targets traits such as higher milk production in dairy cattle, disease resistance in poultry, or specific physical and behavioral characteristics in companion animals. By controlling which animals reproduce, breeders can concentrate favorable genes within a population, effectively influencing the genetic makeup and improving overall productivity, health, and adaptability of the animals.

This method contrasts with genetic engineering, which involves directly manipulating an organism’s DNA, and animal husbandry, which encompasses a broader range of livestock management practices, including housing, feeding, and breeding but does not specifically refer to the selective breeding process itself. Conservation breeding, on the other hand, focuses on preserving genetic diversity and reducing extinction risk within endangered species, rather than enhancing specific traits for agricultural purposes.