2.7: The 19th and Early 20th Centuries--Key Developments

The 19th and Early 20th Centuries: Key Developments

This period saw fundamental advances in several key areas:

• Animal Nutrition: Early research focused on determining the basic nutritional requirements of farm animals and the feeding value of different feedstuffs. The work of scientists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries established the importance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and, later, vitamins and minerals in animal diets.
• Animal Breeding and Genetics: Following the rediscovery of Mendel's laws of inheritance in the early 20th century, significant progress was made in understanding the genetic basis of economically important traits. Scientists like Jay Lush are considered foundational figures in modern animal breeding and genetics, advocating the use of quantitative statistics and genetic information in breeding programs rather than relying solely on subjective appearance.
• Animal Physiology: Research expanded into understanding the internal functions of farm animals, including reproduction, lactation, and growth. This knowledge was crucial for optimizing management practices and improving animal efficiency.

The image below is a table with characteristics of pea plants, such as seed type, flower color, pod, and stems that Gregor Mendel used in his inheritance experiments.

Image credit: By LadyofHats, reworked by Sciencia58 - Clean looking version of this image: File:Mendel_seven_characters.svg with suitable name, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82940368(opens in new window) [commons.wikimedia.org]