Farm animal breeding - old and new aims

It is not by chance that the establishment of a research institute for animal production in Grub coincides with the beginning of systematic animal breeding in Middle Europe. The scientists at Grub have accompanied the transformation of animal breeding from an empirical process to a science-based discipline, based on population genetics. Today, parsimonious breeding goals consider economic constraints as well as societal demands. Further developments will take place with respect to genetic methodology and the use of techniques like epigenetic research, gene editing and genetics of microbiota as well as an enlargement of the available traits through the digital revolution and big data concepts. This will result in breeding for new traits that are of interest for farmers as well as for society and that were not admissible in the past.