Question

State the disadvantage of inbreeding among cattle and how it can be overcome.

Answer 1

Inbreeding:- Inbreeding is between animals of the same breed.

1. Mating of closely related individuals within the same breed for 4 to 6 generations is inbreeding.
2. In this inbreeding technique, superior males and superior females of the same breed are chosen and mated in pairs.

Disadvantages:-

1. Inbreeding leads to reducing fertility.
2. It leads to reduce the birth rate too.
3. It reduced immune function.
4. Inbreeding leads to homozygosity which increases the chances of offspring being affected by genetic disorders or recessive traits.
5. Continued inbreeding, reduces fertility and even productivity. Which is called inbreeding depression.

To overcome:-

1. Disadvantages of inbreeding can be overcome by outbreeding or outcrossing.
2. In outcrossing mating is done between different breeds or individuals of the same breed but they do not have any common ancestors.
3. The outcrossing should be done with the animal of the same breed having no common ancestor for 4-6 generations.
4. A single outcross overcome inbreeding depression.