[Genetic aspects of disease resistance in farm animals]

Improved hygiene, management and vaccinations have led to reduced natural selection, which means that breeding farms have less information on the disease resistance status of their breeding stock. Knowledge concerning the mechanisms of resistance (immunology) has increased enormously. In diseases for which preventive measures are not available, genetic resistance may be of importance. This requires knowledge of parameters involved in disease resistance, and their genetic background. This article discusses the genetic resistance of specific diseases, and general disease resistance, in poultry, pigs and cattle.