Inbreeding and line-breeding are often treated as different breeding strategies, but how different are they genetically? Dr Bobbie van der Westhuizen explains the relationship between pedigree relatedness, homozygosity and inbreeding coefficients, and why mating related animals can increase the risk of undesirable recessive genes being expressed. Using practical livestock examples, the article distinguishes line-breeding as a form of inbreeding applied at a lower rate, discusses the balance between consistency and genetic diversity, and highlights the importance of accurate records, genetic testing and keeping inbreeding levels under control.
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