The practice of mating closely related animals is called

The practice of mating closely related animals is called inbreeding. Inbreeding is when two animals that are closely related, such as siblings or parent and offspring, are bred together. This increases the likelihood that their offspring will have similar traits and characteristics because they share many of the same genes. While inbreeding can lead to the expression of desirable traits, it can also increase the risk of genetic disorders and other health problems. For this reason, many breeders prefer to use outbreeding, or mating animals that are not closely related, to promote genetic diversity and reduce the risk of health problems in their offspring.