movement (in relation to a body part)

• Abduction - movement away from the body (abduction of the shoulder raises arms out to side of animal)

• Adduction - movement towards midline (abduction of hips squeeze legs together)

• Pronation - rotation of hand & forearm so palm faces down/backwards

• Supination - rotation of forearm & hand so palms face up/forwards

• Flexion - decrease angle between two body parts

• Extension - increase angle between two body parts

• Protraction - anterolateral movement of scapula on thoracic wall, allowing shoulder to move anteriorly (e.g. reaching out to grab something)

• Retraction - posteromedial movement of scapula on thoracic wall, allowing should to move posteriorly (e.g. picking something up)

planes

• Rostral - towards muzzle

• Cranial - nearer to skull

• Caudal - away from skull (towards tail)

• Proximal (limbs) - closer to body

• Distal (limbs) - away from body

• Ventral - closer to belly

• Dorsal - nearer to back

• Lateral (median plane) - further from midline

• Medial (median plane) - closer to midline, cut to equal right & left

• Sagittal plane - cut right & left, not equal

• Superficial - closer to surface (of skin)

• Deep - opposed to superficial

• Palmar - under fore-foot

• Plantar - under hind-foot

• Axial - closer to front of leg

• Abaxial - further from centre of leg

Estimating genetic merit is a process used to evaluate and compare the genetic potential of animals for specific traits. This is done by analyzing the animal's DNA and comparing it to a reference population. The resulting information can be used to make informed breeding decisions, such as selecting animals with desirable traits to produce the next generation.