Second Edition
by Richard M. Bourdon

This second edition continues the highly successful presentation of all concepts related to animal breeding. Keeping math to a minimum, the book requires no prior experience in genetics or statistics. It is easy to read and understand, organized in a format that stresses application before theory.

Virtually every element crucial to the successful breeding of animals is covered in this text. Diagrams are used liberally to illustrate statistical concepts.

Contents

I. ANIMAL BREEDING FROM THE TOP DOWN.
  1. What is the “Best” Animal?
  2. How are Animal Populations Improved?

II. ANIMAL BREEDING FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
  3. Mendelian Inheritance.
  4. Genes in Populations.
  5. Simply-Inherited and Polygenic Traits.

III. SELECTION.
  6. Selection for Simply-Inherited Traits.
  7. The Genetic Model for Quantitative Traits.
  8. Statistics and Their Application to Quantitative Traits.
  9. Heritability and Repeatability.
10. Factors Affecting the Rate of Genetic Change.
11. Genetic Prediction.
12. Large-Scale Genetic Evaluation.
13. Correlated Response to Selection.
14. Multiple-Trait Selection.

IV. MATING SYSTEMS.
15. Selection for Simply-Inherited Traits.
16. Mating Strategies Based on Animal Performance: Random and Assortative Mating.
17. Mating Strategies Based on Pedigree Relationship: Inbreeding and Outbreeding.
18. Hybrid Vigor.
19. Crossbreeding Systems.

V. NEW TECHNIQUES, OLD STRATEGIES
20. Biotechnology and Animal Breeding.
21. Commonsense Animal Breeding.

Glossary.
Appendix.
Index

click here to see books • videos • cd-roms of related interest