Page 8 - Breeding Edge ebook

However, in the early 20th Century, other scientists, trying to
better understand inherited traits, reproduced Mendel’s plant
experiments and bought into his theories. In 1909, Nils
Heribert-Nilsson, a Swedish botanist, demonstrated how
results between crosses, or hybrids, yielded plants that
outperformed either parent. That result was labeled “hybrid
vigor” and became the spark for broad use of hybrid crop
production.

Also, in 1917, American agronomist Donald Forsha Jones
showed the benefits of employing the double-cross pollination
method of hybrid seed production and helped usher in the first
American hybrid corn seed in the 1920s.

Meanwhile, English naturalist Charles Darwin, who
researched and wrote concurrently with Mendel, posted his
Origin of Species in 1859 and Natural Selection in 1875,
broadly influencing scientific thought on genetics as well. The
findings of Mendel and Darwin were at the center of genetics
and evolutionary biology by the mid-20th century.

Through the decades since, the magic of hybridization, back-
breeding to isolate and infuse a desired trait, and other cross
breeding has enhanced farm production along with crop and
livestock health. But of course, there were other factors.

Old fashioned selective breeding, along with fertilization, pest
control, soil health enhancement, and other techniques have enhanced crop production, just as livestock
breeding successes have been augmented by improved animal nutrition, disease prevention and
husbandry skills.

Nonetheless, breeding has led to success across virtually all of the farm sector: veggies with
enhanced flavors; apples, citrus and other fruit that are sweeter and with longer shelf lives; even
popcorn that pops better.

Corn breeders plunged into hybrids in the 1930s, producing double-crosses to maximize advantageous
traits, and seed companies began aggressive selling of their hybrid seed to Midwest farmers. The U.S.
average corn yield soared from 20 bushels an acre in 1930 to 90-100 bushels in the 1970s and to more
than 170 bushels in recent years. And even higher averages seem likely. The top yield in the 2017
National Corn Growers Association’s annual yield contest topped 542 bushels per acre in the no-
till/strip-till irrigated category.

Meanwhile, since 1950, the U.S. average yield for wheat has climbed from 16 bushels per acre to
about 50 in recent years; soybeans, from 21 bushels to 50.

The accelerated growth rates of meat animals speak especially to selective breeding and rearing success.
In the early days of the commercial poultry industry, each chicken required approximately 16 pounds of
feed to achieve a four-pound weight. Today, that amount of feed has been reduced by more than half –

6 www.Agri-Pulse.com