Evolução do melhoramento genético de aves no Brasil

Genetic improvement of Poultry in Brazil This paper describes the advancement of animal breeding in Brazil, addressing government funding politicies for research and graduate programs, the low number of researchers and professors to meet the demand for qualified professionals in the area and animal breeding programs implemented and still in effect within public and private institutions in Brazil, discussing their main problems. The paper also address the development of the tree main postgraduation programs in Brazil and their contribution to the scientific advancement of the area. A critical analysis is made of the nutrition and molecular biology contributions to animal breeding programs. The main Brazilian’s poultry breeding programs in public research institutions are described, as well as the increasing demand for high quality genetic material to meet the increasing domestic and international demand for poultry meat. Finally the paper examines the private poultry breeding programs, their success and incorporation by international poultry breeding institutions and analyzes the prospects of small animal breeding programs of less economically relevant species.