Selective breeding was established as a scientific practice

by Robert Bakewell during the British Agricultural Revolution in the 18th century. Arguably, his most important breeding program was with sheep.

Who is the father of selective breeding?

"Let us call first of all upon Robert Bakewell​, patriarch of animal breeders since his time; the man who first found a shortcut to livestock improvement. He flourished about the middle of the 18th century.

Why did Bakewell invent selective breeding?

In the mid-18th century, two British agriculturalists, Robert Bakewell and Thomas Coke, introduced selective breeding as a scientific practice and used inbreeding to stabilize certain qualities in order to reduce genetic diversity. Bakewell was also the first to breed cattle to be used primarily for beef.