Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question tests the history, terminology, and selection principles of animal breeding.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze each statement individually:
• Statement (A): Robert Bakewell (1725–1795), the pioneer of systematic animal breeding, indeed popularized the mottos "Like begets like" and "Breed the best to the best." This statement is True.
• Statement (B): In animal breeding nomenclature, a strain is a group of animals within a breed produced through closed breeding for at least 5 generations. This statement is True.
• Statement (C): Selection does not create new genes. It only increases the frequency of desirable alleles and decreases the frequency of undesirable ones. Mutation is the only source of new genes. This statement is False.
• Statement (D): Individual (mass) selection is ineffective for sex-limited traits (e.g., milk yield, which is not expressed in males) and carcass traits (which require slaughtering). Progeny testing or family selection is preferred for such traits. This statement is False.
Therefore, only statements (A) and (B) are correct.
Step 4: Final Answer
The correct option is (A) and (B) only.