The main difference between purebred and pedigree is that purebred means that the animal’s parents are of the same breed, while pedigree means that the animal’s breeding history has been recorded.
Purebred and pedigree are two words some people use interchangeably when describing the breed or genetics of a pet. However, there’s a slight difference between purebred and pedigree.
Key Areas Covered
1. What Does Purebred Mean
– Definition, Meaning, Features
2. What Does Pedigree Mean
– Definition, Meaning, Features
3. What is the Relationship Between Purebred and Pedigree
– Outline of Common Features
3. What is the Difference Between Purebred and Pedigree
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Pedigree, Purebred
What Does Purebred Mean
We generally describe the term purebred as having parents of the same breed. However, this term is more complex than this general description. Importantly, purebred animals are deliberately bred or developed and are a result of selective breeding. In the context of selective breeding, breeding true means that offspring of any two individuals in the same breed will show consistent, replicable and predictable characteristics. For example, a cat from two purebred cats of the same breed will exhibit the traits of its parents, but not the traits of all breeds in the breed’s ancestry.
We usually use the term purebred to describe dogs, cats, horses, as well as livestock, including sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs. Besides, purebreds are different from crossbreed and mixed breed. Crossbreeds are created by intentional crossing two different purebreds. Mixed breeds, on the other hand, descend from multiple breeds of the same species, typically breeding without any human intervention, selective breeding or recordkeeping.
What Does Pedigree Mean
A pedigree is a genetic representation of a family tree that charts the inheritance of a trait or disease through several generations. It also indicates the relationships between members of the family and reveals which individuals express or silently carry the trait in question. Therefore, pedigree describes the genetic background of an animal.
In short, if an animal has a pedigree, that means there is a record of its ancestors. These records are available in what we call a breeding registry. These registries typically issue certificates for each recorded animal – we also call this certificate a pedigree. This may be a simple certificate or a listing of ancestors, sometimes with a chart showing the lineage of the animal.
Pedigree dogs often tend to be purebreds since a pedigree dog must be produced from registered pedigree parents, and to be eligible for pedigree statues, the dog in question must be purebred.
Relationship Between Purebred and Pedigree
- Some people tend to use the two terms pedigree and purebred interchangeably.
- Most pedigree dogs are purebreds, and purebreds are pedigree dogs.
- However, failing to register a purebred dog with the appropriate authority would make that dog a non-pedigree dog.
Difference Between Purebred and Pedigree
Definition
Purebred means that the animal’s parents are of the same breed, while pedigree means that the animal’s breeding history has been recorded.
Use
The term purebred describes the parents of the animal, while the term pedigree describes the entire genetic background of the animal.
Conclusion
Most people tend to use the two terms pedigree and purebred interchangeably since most pedigree animals are purebreds. However, there is a slight difference between purebred and pedigree. Purebred means that the animal’s parents are of the same breed, while pedigree means that the animal’s breeding history has been recorded.
Reference:
1. Durrani, Sherjan. “‘Pedigree, Purebred And Non-Pedigree Difference.’” Medium, 22 July 2020, Available here.
2. “What Is a Purebred Dog? Is It the Same as a Pedigree Dog, and How Do You Use the Term Correctly?” Pets4Homes, 15 Aug. 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “5031740” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “5422018” (CC0) via Pixabay
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