A breed is a specific group of breedable domestic animals having homogeneous appearance ( phenotype ), homogeneous behavior , and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species . In literature, there exist several slightly deviating definitions. Breeds are formed through genetic isolation and either natural adaptation to the environment or selective breeding , or a combination of the two. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry and agriculture, no single, scientifically accepted definition of the term exists. A breed is therefore not an objective or biologically verifiable classification but is instead a term of art amongst groups of breeders who share a consensus around what qualities make some members of a given species members of a nameable subset.
18-649: The Alpagota is a breed of sheep from the province of Belluno in the Veneto , in north-eastern Italy. It is particularly associated with the historic region of the Alpago , from which it takes its name, and is raised principally in that area. The origins of the Alpagota are unknown. It is raised principally in the historic region of the Alpago , which coincides with the area of the modern comuni of Chies d'Alpago , Farra d'Alpago , Pieve d'Alpago , Puos d'Alpago and Tambre in
36-558: A brood or progeny . This can refer to a set of simultaneous offspring, such as the chicks hatched from one clutch of eggs , or to all offspring produced over time, as with the honeybee . Offspring can occur after mating , artificial insemination , or as a result of cloning . Human offspring ( descendants ) are referred to as children ; male children are sons and female children are daughters (see Kinship ). Offspring contains many parts and properties that are precise and accurate in what they consist of, and what they define. As
54-434: A good price was obtainable. In 2002, farmers in the area formed a co-operative and registered a trademark, creating a logo, "Agnello d'Alpago". To take part, the sheep had to be reared in the five municipalities of Alpago and conform to various methods of production criteria. The lambs were to be slaughtered at sixty to eighty days with a live weight of 22 to 35 kilograms (50 to 80 lb). The Slow Food organisation supported
72-488: The nucleus from an egg, which holds the genetic material. In order to clone an organ, a stem cell is to be produced and then utilized to clone that specific organ. A common misconception of cloning is that it produces an exact copy of the parent being cloned. Cloning copies the DNA/genes of the parent and then creates a genetic duplicate. The clone will not be a similar copy as they will grow up in different surroundings from
90-620: The Italian national association of sheep-breeders. Of the twelve local sheep breeds present in the Veneto fifty years ago, only four survive. The Alpagota was identified by the European Community as a local breed at risk in the early 1990s, and in 1998 received PAT status under the name "Pecora Alpagota". In 1960 there were over ten thousand of these sheep; by the year 2000 this had dwindled to about 1600.. By 2010 there were over 2400, and in 2013
108-484: The breeder mates the most desirable representatives of the breed from his or her point of view, aiming to pass such characteristics to their progeny . This process is known as selective breeding . A written description of desirable and undesirable breed representatives is referred to as a breed standard . Breed specific characteristics, also known as breed traits, are inherited, and purebred animals pass such traits from generation to generation. Thus, all specimens of
126-402: The formation of the parent offspring is the chromosome , which is a structure of DNA which contains many genes. To focus more on the offspring and how it results in the formation of the f1 generation, is an inheritance called sex linkage , which is a gene located on the sex chromosome , and patterns of this inheritance differ in both male and female. The explanation that proves the theory of
144-455: The level of breed/cultivar (i.e. between species, subspecies , botanical variety , even different genera ) are referred to as hybrids . The breeder (or group of breeders) who initially establishes a breed does so by selecting individual animals from within a gene pool that they see as having the necessary qualities needed to enhance the breed model they are aiming for. These animals are referred to as foundation stock . Furthermore,
162-406: The male, depending on the situation, will either give an X chromosome or a Y chromosome . If a male offspring is produced, the gene will consist of an X and a Y chromosome, and if a female offspring is produced, the gene will consist of two X chromosomes. Cloning is the production of an offspring which represents the identical genes to its parent. Reproductive cloning begins with the removal of
180-464: The offspring having genes from both parent generations is proven through a process called crossing over , which consists of taking genes from the male chromosomes and genes from the female chromosome, resulting in a process of meiosis occurring, and leading to the splitting of the chromosomes evenly. Depending on which genes are dominantly expressed in the gene will result in the sex of the offspring. The female will always give an X chromosome , whereas
198-404: The offspring of a new species, also known as a child or f1 generation, consist of genes of the father and the mother, which is also known as the parent generation. Each of these offspring contains numerous genes which have coding for specific tasks and properties. Males and females both contribute equally to the genotypes of their offspring, in which gametes fuse and form. An important aspect of
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#1732884720905216-490: The parent and may encounter different opportunities and experiences that can result in epigenetic changes. Although mostly positive, cloning also faces some setbacks in terms of ethics and human health. Though cell division and DNA replication is a vital part of survival, there are many steps involved and mutations can occur with permanent change in an organism's and their offspring's DNA. Some mutations can be good as they result in random evolution periods which may be good for
234-402: The project and helped promote the breed, marketing the meat and providing information to consumers. The campaign has been a success, with sales spread throughout much of the year, greater awareness of the product and better prices for farmers. Breed Another point of view is that a breed is consistent enough in type to be logically grouped together and when mated within the group produce
252-430: The same breed carry several genetic characteristics of the original foundation animal(s). In order to maintain the breed, a breeder would select those animals with the most desirable traits to achieve further maintenance and developing of such traits. At the same time, the breed would avoid animals carrying characteristics undesirable or not typical for the breed, including faults or genetic defects. The population within
270-530: The same breed should consist of a sufficient number of animals to maintain the breed within the specified parameters without the necessity of forced inbreeding . Domestic animal breeds commonly differ from country to country, and from nation to nation. Breeds originating in a certain country are known as "native breeds" of that country. Offspring In biology , offspring are the young creation of living organisms , produced either by sexual or asexual reproduction . Collective offspring may be known as
288-476: The same type. When bred together, individuals of the same breed pass on these predictable traits to their offspring, and this ability – known as " breeding true " – is a requirement for a breed. Plant breeds are more commonly known as cultivars . The offspring produced as a result of breeding animals of one breed with other animals of another breed are known as crossbreeds or mixed breeds. Crosses between animal or plant variants above
306-650: The south-east of the province of Belluno ; some are raised in the neighbouring provinces of Padova , Pordenone and Treviso . The Alpagota probably shares a common origin with the Lamon breed from the Feltrino, the area around Feltre , some 50 km west of the Alpago. It is one of the forty-two autochthonous local sheep breeds of limited distribution for which a herdbook is kept by the Associazione Nazionale della Pastorizia ,
324-453: The total numbers for the breed were reported as 3363. The Alpagota is a small to medium-sized breed with a white face with black markings, no horns and relatively small ears. In the past the Alpagota was a triple-purpose breed, reared for meat, milk and wool; it is now kept mainly for meat production. A twentieth century problem farmers faced was the poor conformation of the carcasses and the short time (about one month around Easter) for which
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