lallevatore

L'allevatore, or the breeder, is a person who raises and breeds animals for sale or commercial production. The term is used to describe professionals who manage breeding stock across species, including livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and poultry, as well as domestic animals like dogs and cats. The role combines animal husbandry, genetics, and farm management.

Core duties include selecting breeding stock to improve desirable traits, planning matings, and recording pedigrees; ensuring appropriate nutrition, housing, and welfare; and providing preventive veterinary care. Breeders monitor fertility and parturition, oversee weaning and growth, and coordinate sales. They also maintain records for traceability and regulatory compliance.

Types of breeders include commercial livestock breeders who supply meat, milk, wool, or labor; specialized breeders focusing on specific breeds; and companion-animal breeders for dogs or cats. Practices vary by species and market, but ethical breeders emphasize genetic diversity, disease screening, and responsible placement of offspring.

Regulation and ethics: Breeding operations are subject to animal welfare, biosecurity, and veterinary requirements in many jurisdictions. Ethical considerations include welfare standards, avoidance of inbreeding, transparency about lineage and health issues, and compliance with certification schemes where available.

Economic and historical context: The breeder plays a central role in agriculture, linking farm production with markets for animal products and breeding stock. Advances in genetics, data recording, and veterinary medicine have shaped modern breeding practices, reinforcing the importance of responsible, evidence-based selection.