Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/21833
Title: Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
Contributor(s): Galukande, E (author); Mulindwa, H (author); Wurzinger, M (author); Roschinsky, Romana  (author)orcid ; Mwai, A O (author); Solkner, J (author)
Publication Date: 2013
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.1017/s2078633612000471
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/21833
Abstract: This paper reviews experiences with cross-breeding for milk production in the tropics. Data were compiled from 23 different studies evaluating the performance of different grades of cross-bred animals as well as local breeds. Relative performance of indigenous breeds compared with different grades of cross-breeds was calculated for three climatic zones. Traits considered were milk yield per lactation, age at first calving, services per conception, lifetime milk yield and total number of lactations completed. At 50 percent 'Bos taurus' blood, lactation milk yields were 2.6, 2.4 and 2.2 times higher than those of local cattle in the highland, tropical wet and dry, and semi-arid climatic zones, respectively; lactation lengths increased by 1.2, 1.2 and 1.9 months in the above-mentioned climatic zones, respectively; there was a reduction in calving interval by 0.8 times and in age at first calving by 0.9 times. Similarly, cross-breds with 50 percent 'B. taurus' genes had 1.8 times higher lifetime milk yields and a 1.2 times higher number of total lactations. Although cross-breeding faces a number of challenges such as better infrastructure, higher demand for health care, there are many advantages of using it. These are higher production per animal, higher income for the families and provision of high-value food. It is therefore likely to continue to be an important livestock improvement tool in the tropics in the future, where farmers can provide sufficient management for maintaining animals with higher input requirements and access to the milk market can be secured.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source of Publication: Animal Genetic Resources, v.52, p. 111-125
Publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Place of Publication: Italy
ISSN: 2076-4022
2078-6336
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070201 Animal Breeding
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300305 Animal reproduction and breeding
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 830302 Dairy Cattle
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 100402 Dairy cattle
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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