Avla

Avla is a verb in several Scandinavian languages, most commonly Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, meaning to breed or propagate offspring, particularly in animals or cultivated plants. The related noun avl denotes breeding as a practice or its genetic outcome. The term is used in agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry, and appears in terms such as avlsprogram (breeding program) and avlsarbete (breeding work). In everyday language, avla can refer to the broader process of producing progeny with desirable traits.

In Swedish, the verb avla is used to describe breeding actions. In Norwegian and Danish, the cognate verb avle is used with a similar sense. The concept is historically linked to Old Norse and the broader Germanic language family, with cognate forms across Scandinavian languages.

Breeding aims can include improving productivity, health, temperament, or specific physical traits. Avl is central to the management of livestock breeds, dogs and horses, and plant cultivars. Selective breeding has shaped many domestic species over centuries and remains a key tool in modern genetics and conservation programs, alongside other reproductive technologies.

Some contexts use avl in discussions of genetic diversity and conservation, highlighting the balance between trait selection and maintaining a healthy gene pool. See also avl, uppfödning, and selective breeding.