Selective breeding, which is also known as artificial selection, is when farmers breed animals in order to obtain specific traits. This is done by professional breeders who only breed animals that have the desired traits. One example of this would be if a cow produces an abnormally large amount of milk, then they would only breed them with other cows that do the same in order to breed a line of cows that produce that amount of milk. It is used in livestock, dogs, and even plants. Many people have issues with this because of inbreeding and other problems that are encountered with the animals. Let’s take a close look at the pros and cons of selective breeding.
The Advantages of Selective Breeding
1. Higher Yield of Goods
The main reason for selective breeding in the first place is to increase the amount of milk, meat, eggs, or fruits that are produced by the animal or plant. This has been successfully done many times and continues to be done today.
2. Healthier Animals
With selective breeding, certain diseases and illnesses that would normally take the lives of many animals, can be eradicated. This results in longer living animals.
3. Unsuitable Conditions
When it comes to plants that are bred with selective breeding, there are many different benefits. One of them is that they can be tailored to grow on land or soil that they would normally not be able to. This opens up the possibilities for cultivation.
4. Most Nutrition Provided
Plants and animals can be bred to have more nutritional value. This is a great benefit because that nutrition is passed on to the consumers.
5. Breeds Out Harmful Traits
Any traits that are harmful to the species as a whole, or are unnecessary obstacles in the harvesting process can be successfully bred out of the animals.
6. Variations of Species
New breeds of species can be developed using selective breeding. This is beneficial to the people as well as the animals that are in the wild.
The Disadvantages of Selective Breeding
1. Inhibits Evolution
The frequency that certain alleles are introduced into a species is drastically cut down with selective breeding. This could cause a severe lack of evolution in species where it would naturally occur.
2. Harmful Pathogens
While certain pathogens that cause disease and illness may be eradicated, it could provide ideal situation for new and more harmful ones to develop. These new pathogens would then continue to be passed down during the breeding process.
3. In Breeding Risks
One great example of inbreeding that has resulted in devastating effects is the white tiger. They have been in bred so long, in order to obtain the striking white color, that severe mutations have begun to occur. These same risks apply to any livestock or plants that are being in bred in order to achieve supreme traits.
4. Other Animals Unable To Feed
Animals that rely on certain nutrients and traits of plants may no longer be able to feed off of ones that have been selectively bred. This is because these traits can be flushed out of them completely.
5. Very Time Consuming
Since it takes time to know if a trait has been passed down, selective breeding takes a lot of it. Especially in the case that the trait was not passed down or eliminated. The process must start over again.
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Important Facts About Selective Breeding
