Genetic engineering is not just an extension of conventional breeding. In fact, it differs profoundly. As a general rule, conventional breeding develops new plant varieties by the process of selection, and seeks to achieve expression of genetic material which is already present within a species. (There are exceptions, which include species hybridization, wide crosses and horizontal gene transfe...

The sustainability of breeding activities in 15 pig farming systems in five European countries was evaluated. One conventional and two differentiated systems per country were studied. The Conventional systems were the standard systems in their countries. The differentiated systems were of three categories: Adapted Conventional with focus on animal welfare, meat quality or environment (five syst...

Three rusts are destructive, diminishing produce and nutritious value significantly, affect food availability consequently security through reductions in yield. In agricultural research institutes with mandate of wheat improvement, incorporating genes resistant against rust is matter routine. The dilemma has been addressed the most, leading to discovery principles plant breeding for resistance ...

Traditional tree improvement programs start with deliberate phenotypic selection of candidate trees followed by rounds of recurrent selection characterized by cumulative incremental gain advancements. While effective, the process is elaborate, quantitatively oriented, and follows sophisticated breeding theories. Breeding and testing start with the selection of pre-determined mating designs, req...

The objective of this study was to compare a conventional dairy cattle breeding program characterized by a progeny testing scheme with different scenarios of genomic breeding programs. The ultimate economic evaluation criterion was discounted profit reflecting discounted returns minus discounted costs per cow in a balanced breeding goal of production and functionality. A deterministic approach ...

The development of ‘scientific’ breeding methodologies in the first half of the 20 Century was based partly on the application of genetic theory following the rediscovery of Mendel’s Laws, but mostly on developing procedures for systematic phenotypic selection. Although, new technologies in tissue culture, pathology, statistics and quantitative genetics contributed to advances in the second hal...

The power of selection is illustrated by the increase in the average annual yield of dairy cows in Sweden in kg fat-corrected milk from 2,500 kg in the year 1900 to 8,200 kg in 1997. More than a half of this improvement has a genetic origin. The breeding goal for dairy cattle has successively been broadened to cover traits other than production. The prerequisites for a successful breeding progr...