Progeny testing
Encyclopedia
Progeny Testing is a test of the value for selective breeding
of an individual's genotype
by looking at the progeny
produced by different matings.
of both plant
s and animal
s, but is most commercially important in animal breeding
to determine the value of an animal in terms of the sex-limited characters of its offspring, for example milk or egg production in females. A bull for example cannot be assessed for milk production, however the performance of its female offspring can be used to determine the use of the animal for future crosses, provided of course the character has a high heritability
.
A progeny test is performed by mating the male with a number of females with proven performance. The average performance of the offspring is then found, giving a measure of the male's respective value to the breeder.
Selective breeding
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits. Typically, strains that are selectively bred are domesticated, and the breeding is sometimes done by a professional breeder. Bred animals are known as breeds, while bred plants are known as varieties,...
of an individual's genotype
Genotype
The genotype is the genetic makeup of a cell, an organism, or an individual usually with reference to a specific character under consideration...
by looking at the progeny
Progeny
Progeny can refer to:*A genetic descendant or offspring*An academic progeny Other uses*Progeny Linux Systems*Progeny - an episode of the television series Stargate Atlantis...
produced by different matings.
Progeny Testing
It is used in the breedingBreeding in the wild
Breeding in the wild is the natural process of animal reproduction occurring in the natural habitat of a given species. This terminology is distinct from animal husbandry or breeding of species in captivity...
of both plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s and animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s, but is most commercially important in animal breeding
Animal breeding
Animal breeding is a branch of animal science that addresses the evaluation of the genetic value of domestic livestock...
to determine the value of an animal in terms of the sex-limited characters of its offspring, for example milk or egg production in females. A bull for example cannot be assessed for milk production, however the performance of its female offspring can be used to determine the use of the animal for future crosses, provided of course the character has a high heritability
Heritability
The Heritability of a population is the proportion of observable differences between individuals that is due to genetic differences. Factors including genetics, environment and random chance can all contribute to the variation between individuals in their observable characteristics...
.
A progeny test is performed by mating the male with a number of females with proven performance. The average performance of the offspring is then found, giving a measure of the male's respective value to the breeder.