A breed is best described as

• A. A two-part scientific name
• B. The physical structure of an animal
• C. A group of animals with similar traits
• D. The genetic makeup of an individual

Answer: (C)

A breed is a group within a species that shares a distinct set of inherited traits and is kept and bred to preserve those traits. Members of the same breed tend to look and perform similarly because breeders select and mate individuals to pass on specific characteristics, creating a recognizable, stable population. This differs from the scientific name, which is a broad genus and species label, and from an individual’s physical structure or anatomy, which describes one animal rather than a whole group. It also differs from the genetic makeup of a single individual, which is its genotype; a breed is about the inherited traits shared by a population, not just one animal’s genes. Examples include Holstein cattle for dairy and Angus cattle for beef.