Tõud

Tõud is the Estonian plural noun meaning breeds or lines within a species. In zoology, animal husbandry, and related disciplines, tõud refer to distinct populations that have been shaped through selective breeding and that exhibit recognizable traits transmitted across generations. The term is commonly used for domesticated animals and is employed when discussing genetic differences, appearance, behavior, and production characteristics among groups within a species.

Etymology and form: Tõud is the plural form of tõug, which denotes a breed or lineage. The genitive form is tõu, and the genitive plural is tõugude. In everyday Estonian, phrases like koerte tõud (dog breeds) illustrate how the word is used to refer to multiple recognized groups within a species.

Usage and scope: The concept of tõug encompasses established or recognized lineages that breeders and researchers distinguish for management, health, and performance reasons. While most commonly associated with animals such as dogs, cattle, and poultry, the term can appear in discussions of other domesticated populations where stable lineages are identified. Tõug is distinguished from broader taxonomic categories by emphasizing heredity and breeding history rather than species-wide variation alone.

See also: Tõug, animal breeding, genetics, domestication.