Building up the best herd
Farmers have been breeding animals for years through selective breeding in attempts to build a herd of animals that are healthier and more productive. This involves selecting parents that have one or more desirable traits that farmers hope offspring will inherit.
Sharing genes across the world
Modern breeding for many species of farm animals including dairy cattle, poultry and pigs, is often accomplished through artificial insemination. This makes it possible for breeders throughout the world to introduce the best traits into their herds, even though males with those traits might live far away or even, in another country!