Farmers and breeders allowed only the plants and animals with desirable characteristics to reproduce, causing the evolution of farm stock. This process is artificial selection.

Animal husbandry and plant breeding programmes are examples of artificial selection.

Introduction:
Artificial selection, also known as selective breeding, is the process by which humans deliberately choose certain traits in plants and animals through breeding and selection. This process aims to enhance desired characteristics and eliminate undesired traits. Animal husbandry and plant breeding programmes are prime examples of artificial selection.

Animal Husbandry:
Animal husbandry refers to the practice of breeding, raising, and caring for domestic animals. In animal husbandry, humans selectively breed animals to improve desired traits such as milk production, meat quality, disease resistance, and productivity.

Examples:
- Dairy cattle: In the case of dairy cattle, animals that produce high milk yields are selected for breeding. This selective breeding over generations has resulted in dairy breeds that are highly efficient milk producers.
- Poultry farming: Selective breeding has led to the development of chicken breeds that grow rapidly, have better feed conversion rates, and produce larger eggs. These traits have been enhanced through artificial selection.
- Dog breeding: Humans have selectively bred dogs for various purposes such as hunting, herding, guarding, and companionship. This has led to the development of different dog breeds with specific characteristics suited to their intended roles.

Plant Breeding:
Plant breeding involves the manipulation of plant species to enhance desired traits such as yield, disease resistance, drought tolerance, and nutritional value. Through selective breeding, humans have been able to improve crop quality and increase agricultural productivity.

Examples:
- Wheat breeding: Wheat varieties with higher yields, better disease resistance, and improved quality have been developed through plant breeding techniques. These varieties help in meeting the increasing food demands of the growing population.
- Fruit tree breeding: Fruit breeders select and cross-pollinate plants to develop new varieties with improved taste, size, shelf life, and disease resistance. This has resulted in the availability of a wide range of fruit varieties in the market.
- Vegetable breeding: Through artificial selection, vegetable breeders have developed high-yielding, disease-resistant varieties with desirable traits such as improved taste, color, and texture.

Conclusion:
Animal husbandry and plant breeding programmes are examples of artificial selection, as they involve the deliberate selection and breeding of organisms with specific traits. These practices have played a crucial role in improving the productivity, quality, and diversity of both animal and plant species, thereby benefiting humans in various ways.