An estimate of an animal's genetic worth as a parent.
The concept originated in early 20th-century eugenics applied to both plants and animals. When applied to livestock selection, 'breeding' and 'value' carry historical weight from human eugenics movements where women's reproductive value was commodified and controlled.
Prefer 'genetic merit', 'phenotypic potential', or 'predicted performance' to avoid resonance with human reproductive commodification. Be explicit: breeding programs are technical tools for trait selection, not value judgments on organisms.
["genetic merit","predicted genetic merit (PGM)","phenotypic potential","trait selection index"]
Women geneticists (e.g., Barbara McClintock) advanced foundational breeding science; male breeders historically claimed priority in animal selection programs.
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