The Sire as Half of the Herd
Half of the herd is-
- Dam
- Sire — Correct Answer
- Son
- Daughter
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Sire
The famous animal breeding adage states "The Sire is half the herd." A single sire contributes 50% of the genes to every offspring born in the herd, making his genetic quality critically important for overall herd improvement.
Sire — Key Facts in Animal Breeding
- Sire = male parent (father)
- A single sire can mate with many females → his genes spread widely through the herd
- Progeny testing is used specifically for the selection of sire
- Progeny testing is described as a "two-way selection system"
- Progeny testing and Family selection are most effective when heritability of the trait is low
Basis of Selection — Summary
| Method | Based on | Best when h² is |
|---|---|---|
| Individual/Mass selection | Own performance | High |
| Pedigree selection | Ancestors' performance | High |
| Progeny testing | Progeny performance | Low |
| Family selection | Collateral relatives | Low |
Why Other Options Are Wrong
- Dam → female parent; contributes 50% genes to one offspring at a time; cannot cover the herd the way a sire can
- Son / Daughter → offspring, not parents responsible for herd genetics
📚 About this Topic — Animal Genetics & Breeding
This multiple choice question is from Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Genetics & Breeding to strengthen your preparation.
