Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Veterinary Care • Breeding Programs • Animal Welfare

Genetic Improvement

Term from Animal Husbandry industry explained for recruiters

Genetic Improvement is a method used in farming and animal breeding to enhance desired traits in livestock through selective breeding programs. It's like choosing the best animals to be parents so their offspring will have better characteristics, such as producing more milk, growing faster, or being healthier. This process helps farms become more productive and profitable. Similar terms include "selective breeding," "genetic selection," or "breeding program optimization." Think of it as carefully planning animal families to get the best possible results for the farm.

Examples in Resumes

Managed Genetic Improvement programs resulting in 15% increase in milk production

Implemented Selective Breeding and Genetic Improvement strategies for beef cattle herd

Led team of specialists in developing Genetic Improvement protocols for sheep breeding program

Typical job title: "Animal Breeding Specialists"

Also try searching for:

Livestock Breeding Specialist Animal Geneticist Breeding Program Manager Animal Breeding Coordinator Genetics Improvement Specialist Livestock Production Specialist Animal Production Manager

Where to Find Animal Breeding Specialists

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a long-term genetic improvement strategy for a large dairy farm?

Expected Answer: Should discuss analyzing current herd performance, setting breeding goals, selecting appropriate breeding stock, implementing tracking systems, and measuring progress over time. Should mention consideration of both genetic and environmental factors.

Q: How do you handle challenges in a breeding program when results aren't meeting expectations?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate problem-solving abilities, data analysis skills, ability to adjust breeding strategies, and experience with managing stakeholder expectations while maintaining program integrity.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when selecting breeding pairs?

Expected Answer: Should explain consideration of genetic traits, health history, production records, and compatibility while avoiding inbreeding. Should mention use of breeding value calculations and performance data.

Q: How do you track and measure the success of a genetic improvement program?

Expected Answer: Should discuss use of performance metrics, record-keeping systems, genetic evaluation tools, and methods for comparing offspring performance to parent generations.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic principles of genetic improvement in livestock?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic concepts of inheritance, trait selection, and breeding programs in simple terms. Should demonstrate understanding of how desired traits are passed from parents to offspring.

Q: How do you maintain accurate breeding records?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic record-keeping practices, including animal identification, breeding dates, parentage tracking, and performance data collection.