How do breeders choose animals for breeding stock?

Breeders select animals for breeding stock by systematically evaluating candidates to enhance specific, desirable traits while accounting for both genetic and environmental influences. The process generally involves the following approaches:123

• Defining Objectives: Breeders establish goals based on market demand—such as improving meat quality or disease resistance—and adjust these programs as consumer preferences evolve.1
• Performance Evaluation: Candidates are ranked using an animal model, a statistical method that separates genetic effects from environmental factors (like feed or weather) to ensure selection is based on heritable traits rather than temporary performance gains.34
• Use of Pedigrees and Relatives: Because close relatives share genes, breeders examine the pedigree and performance records of an animal’s relatives to increase the accuracy of selection, especially for traits expressed late in life or in only one sex.54
• Progeny Testing: In industries like dairy and beef cattle, breeders use progeny testing to evaluate sires based on the performance of their offspring, which provides high accuracy for selecting animals to be used in artificial insemination.6
• Advanced Tools: Breeders utilize modern technology, such as ultrasound to measure carcass composition or specialized scoring indices for health conditions like hip dysplasia, to make objective selection decisions.15