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Originally Posted by BamaFan121s  As far as a lifetime of raising cattle...that's impressive, or would be if we were discussing cows.  Still, my question remains unanswered. Your possession of a degree alone, though admirable, does not stand as validation of your claims. Again, in order for those claims to be fact instead of theory, they have to be based on compiled, long term research, done over several generations of offspring, of multiple breeds--something that there doesn't seem to be any of.
I'm certainly not arguing with you in regards to the aspect of line breeding and inbreeding! I would never condone that type of breeding, so I hope you are not misunderstanding that to be what I am supporting!  "Selective breeding" is not something limted to purebred dogs...anytime you are breeding for the purpose of enhancing or eliminating a given fault or trait, it is selective breeding, be it purebred or mutt.
Regardless, you have enforced the point I was trying to make to begin with. With crossing breeds, you may eliminate certain undesireable traits/issues, but then again, you may not. You may get just the opposite...the worst of both breeds. If someone were taking the appropriate steps to record and evaluate the process in a very effecient, meaningful manner, then that's one thing and I would fully support it. But the problem is, that is NOT happening with most of the shady breeders mass producing these 'designer dogs.' That is what I, and I think others, have such an issue with. At this point, it seems to be no more than a weak attempt that many use to justify indiscriminate breeding practices. |
It really doesn't matter if we talk about cows, dogs, horses, pigs, plants, or humans. It all works the very same way.
No, I absolutely do not think you are arguing with me at all, I am here to inform as well as learn. Selective breeding is generally referred to when you are actually mating two animlas from two purebred parents to concentrate on a specific trait.
If you were looking for information to back this up look up "hybrid vigor", or "heterosis." That is what a cross bred animal is actually referred to, a hybrid.
Science Dictionary
hybrid vigor
The increased vigor or general health, resistance to disease, and other superior qualities that are often manifested in hybrid organisms, especially plants and animals. Compare
inbreeding depression.
And you are right, I still prefer the benefits of purebred animals over crossbreds any day of the week unless you are talking about my T-bone steak! LOL.