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7.5 analyse and present information from secondary sources to trace the history of the selective breeding of one species for agricultural purposes and use available evidence to describe the series of changes that have occurred in the species as a result of this selective breeding

analyse and present information from secondary sources to trace the history of the selective breeding of one species for agricultural purposes and use available evidence to describe the series of changes that have occurred in the species as a result of this selective breeding

Some information on relatively recent selective breeding can be found at Wikipedia (external website) and The Open Door Website (external website), Improvements in farming in the 18th Century.

Information on earlier selective breeding can be found at the University of Reading (external website), UK. Scroll down to Characteristics of domesticated plants or browse the other headings.

Useful information

Cattle and sheep have been specifically bred for such things as leaner meat, more milk, creamier milk, better quality wool and increased resistance to disease.

Pigs, due to selective breeding are less aggressive, have smaller tusks and more meat compared to their genetically similar ancestors.

Horses have been selectively bred from wild horses over centuries resulting in many varieties including draft horses. These animals include breeds such as the Shire, Clydesdale, Belgian and Suffolk which are used for specific farming purposes, but all involve greater strength, size and ability to pull wagons, ploughs and drays. Race horses also originated from wild horses and have been bred for greater speed.

Plants such as wheat have been bred to grow in harsh environmental conditions, have higher yields and have increased resistance to disease.