Mason's World Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breeding

Over thousands of years, animal husbandry coupled with natural selection has given rise to a great diversity of livestock breeds. A major new reference work, The Encyclopedia of Livestock Breeds and Breedingdescribes breeds of livestock worldwide. It presents easily accessible information on domestication (including wild ancestors and related species), potential domesticants, genetics and breeding, livestock produce and markets, cultural and social aspects of livestock farming, genetic conservation and the use of livestock for conservation grazing. Written by two renowned livestock authorities, this volume draws on the authors' lifelong interest and involvement in livestock breeds of the world, presenting a unique, comprehensive and fully cross-referenced guide to cattle, buffalo, horses, pigs, sheep, asses, goats and camelids, placing them in a practical agricultural context. The Encyclopediawill be of great value to agriculturalists, breeders, geneticists, biologists, rural historians, conservationists, ecologists, and all those who are interested in the rich diversity of livestock breeds.