Question

Enlist the steps involved in the inbreeding of cattle. Suggest two disadvantages of this practice.

Answer 1

Hint:Inbreeding can be defined as a process of producing an offspring by sexual reproduction with the best genetic material from both male and female. The main purpose of inbreeding is to conserve the best genetic material as it increases better reproduction. It is selective breeding. It has both advantages and disadvantages.

Complete answer:
As mentioned in the hint, inbreeding is a process to produce progeny by breeding animals that are closely related genetically. Most domestic animals are used for inbreeding. This process can improve the genetic material present in them.
Let’s study the steps involved in the inbreeding of cattle.
1. Superior males with higher genetic value and females with the higher genetic value which produce more milk per lactation are bred to produce superior progeny.
2. Produced offspring undergo evaluation and from them, superior males and females are chosen for mating.
Now, let’s see some of the disadvantages of inbreeding.
1. Inbreeding can result in homozygosity. Due to which the chances of offspring being affected by recessive traits increases. Genetic disorders due to recessive traits homozygosity are rare but inbreeding can lead to it.
2. It can also lead to inbreeding depression which can cause infertility and decrease the productivity of cattle.

Additional information:
Many animals have been bred till now such as lions, sea lions, sea otters, cheetahs, song sparrows, etc. Thousands of years ago the cheetah’s population was reduced so the animals that are alive today are all related to one another due to inbreeding.

Note:- Due to homozygosity in inbred animals, it increases the chances of offspring being affected by deleterious or recessive traits. This can lead to a temporary decrease in the biological fitness of a population. Inbreeding can result in the purging of deleterious alleles from a population through purifying selection.