What is a group of animals that have similar characteristics and pass those characteristics to their offspring called?

The term that describes a group of animals sharing similar characteristics and capable of passing those traits to their offspring is "breed." Breeds are often established through selective breeding practices that enhance specific traits, such as size, color, behavior, or productivity, making them distinguishable from other groups within the same species.

When individuals are classified as a breed, it signifies a targeted effort in animal husbandry to maintain and propagate specific characteristics, which can involve considerations like genetic lineage and phenotypic traits. This precise classification is crucial in agriculture, particularly in livestock management, where farmers may want to enhance certain attributes (such as milk production in dairy cattle or growth rate in meat animals) for commercial purposes.

In contrast, the other terms represent different concepts in taxonomy and animal husbandry. "Species" refers to a broader classification based on genetic and functional similarities among organisms, encompassing all varieties of a particular kind. "Herd" is generally a collective term for a group of animals, particularly those kept together for production or management purposes, without specificity to their genetic relationships. "Variety" can refer to different cultivars or more minor distinctions within a species or breed, but it doesn’t capture the full breeding lineage associated with the term breed.

In summary, breed