'animal-genetic' originates from the English words 'animal' and 'genetic'. 'animal' ultimately comes from Latin 'animal', where 'anima' meant 'breath' or 'soul'. 'genetic' comes from Greek 'genētikos' via New Latin and modern English, where the root 'gen-' meant 'birth' or 'origin'.

'animal' entered English from Latin (via Old French or directly into Middle English) as 'animal'; 'genetic' was formed in modern English in the 19th century from 'genetics' (derived from Greek). The compound 'animal-genetic' is a recent English formation combining these two elements to describe matters of animal heredity.

Initially the component words had separate histories and meanings ('animal' referring to living creatures and 'genetic' to origins or birth). Over time the compound has come to mean specifically 'relating to the genetics of animals.'