# Describe the process of selective breeding that a farmer could use to produce a herd of cattle with a higher milk yield.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1) — 5.2 Selective breeding · Describe · 4 marks

> A farmer has a herd of cattle that produce varying amounts of milk. The farmer wants to use selective breeding to increase the milk yield of the herd over several generations.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Identify and select cattle with the highest milk yield / desirable characteristic from the existing herd
2. Breed the selected cattle with each other / allow the selected individuals to reproduce together
3. Select offspring with the highest milk yield from the next generation and breed them again / repeat the selection and breeding process over several generations
4. Over time / after many generations, offspring will show the desirable phenotype / higher milk yield

## Key terms

- [selective breeding](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/selective-breeding)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/describe-the-process-of-selective-breeding-de8edb77) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.