ICEV Animal Science Certification Practice Exam 2026 - Free Animal Science Practice Questions and Study Guide

Documented ancestry of breeding animals is called a pedigree. A pedigree records parentage and lineage, showing who the animal’s sire and dam are and often extending back through several generations. This helps breeders understand genetic relationships, track lineages, and manage inbreeding while making informed selection decisions.

Breeding value refers to an estimate of an animal’s genetic merit for specific traits, based on performance and relatives, rather than its recorded ancestry itself. Genotype is the animal’s actual genetic makeup at the DNA level, and phenotype is the observable traits expressed by the animal. A pedigree complements these concepts by providing the documented family history that underpins relatedness and genetic potential known to breeders.