Genetic Improvement of Livestock and Poultry

The book delves into both traditional and contemporary breeding methods that are pertinent to the field of animal breeding, aiming to spur further research and swiftly disseminate cutting-edge techniques to the scientific community. A range of conventional breeding techniques are deployed for the selection and multiplication of superior cattle and buffalo germplasm, resulting in significant increases in milk production. These technologies have been refined through advancements in quantitative genetics and reproductive biology. The book sheds light on various methods for selecting females based on their anticipated production capacity and males based on the performance of their progeny. Additionally, the book discusses the latest tools in animal breeding, such as molecular marker systems, genome maps, QTL linkages, and MAS, which can be employed to accelerate the rate of genetic progress in breeding programs. These modern techniques are especially useful for traits that are challenging to improve using conventional methods. Consequently, the integration of molecular markers with conventional breeding techniques that incorporate pedigree and phenotypic information may emerge as a valuable future breeding tool for the genetic improvement of livestock and poultry.