Reinzucht

Reinzucht, a German term meaning pure breeding, refers to the practice of breeding animals or plants exclusively from stock that belongs to the same breed or lineage with the aim of preserving specific breed characteristics and genetic integrity. It is commonly used in German-speaking contexts to distinguish from crossbreeding (Kreuzung or Mischzucht), which introduces material from other breeds.

In animal breeding, Reinzucht relies on pedigreed stock and careful mating to concentrate desired traits such as conformation, temperament, and performance. Breeders may employ line breeding or close inbreeding, mating related individuals to fix characteristics within a line while monitoring health and fertility. In plant breeding, the term can describe the maintenance of pure lines through selfing or clonal propagation to ensure uniformity across cultivars or varieties.

Advantages of Reinzucht include greater predictability of traits and a clearer alignment with established breed standards, as well as the preservation of characteristic appearances and behaviors. The major drawbacks are reduced genetic diversity and an increased risk of inherited disorders if the breeding pool is too narrow. To mitigate these risks, many programs use health screening, careful mate selection, and, on occasion, limited outcrossing or the introduction of new lines to maintain vigor.

Overall, Reinzucht is a foundational concept in traditional breed management and is often balanced with considerations of genetic health and welfare within modern breeding practices.