jack russel terrier outline black white cow

Exactly what the difference is between line breeding and inbreeding tends to be defined differently for each species for there is no ‘formal’ definition. Since all pure breeds of animal (including humans) trace back to a relatively limited number of foundation ancestors, all pure breeding is, by this definition, inbreeding though the term is not generally used to refer to matings where a common ancestor does not occur within a five-generation pedigree.īreeders of purebred livestock have introduced the term ‘line breeding’, to cover the milder forms of inbreeding.

In its opposite, out crossing, the two parents are totally unrelated. In genetic terminology, inbreeding is the mating of two animals who are related to each other. What are inbreeding and line breeding, and what effect do they have?

My thanks to Sue Bowling for allowing me to quote extensively from her articleįirst and foremost I should emphasise that line breeding is the cornerstone of selective breeding. Selective breeding has given us cows that give the maximum amount of milk, sheep that give the maximum amount of wool, chickens that lay eggs almost every day and the most beautiful dogs in the world. There is nothing wrong with line breeding but it is like using a satellite navigation device – if it is not used intelligently you land up in Richmond, North Yorkshire when you intended to go to Richmond in London! If you are to use line breeding intelligently you have to know the basics. I hope that this short article will help. Animal Care College – caring for people caring for animals

Jack russel terrier outline black white cow