Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities

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 o...

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Main Authors: Galukande, E., Mulindwa, H., Wurzinger, Maria, Roschinky, R., Okeyo Mwai, Ally, Sölkner, Johann
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Cambridge University Press 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34408
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author Galukande, E.
Mulindwa, H.
Wurzinger, Maria
Roschinky, R.
Okeyo Mwai, Ally
Sölkner, Johann
author_browse Galukande, E.
Mulindwa, H.
Okeyo Mwai, Ally
Roschinky, R.
Sölkner, Johann
Wurzinger, Maria
author_facet Galukande, E.
Mulindwa, H.
Wurzinger, Maria
Roschinky, R.
Okeyo Mwai, Ally
Sölkner, Johann
author_sort Galukande, E.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description 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.
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spelling CGSpace344082025-11-12T04:24:42Z Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities Galukande, E. Mulindwa, H. Wurzinger, Maria Roschinky, R. Okeyo Mwai, Ally Sölkner, Johann cattle animal breeding 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. 2013-06 2014-01-29T06:37:20Z 2014-01-29T06:37:20Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34408 en Limited Access application/pdf Cambridge University Press Galukande, E., Mulindwa, H., Wurzinger, M., Roschinsky, R., Okeyo, A.M. and Sölkner, J. 2013. Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities. Animal Genetic Resources 52:111-125.
spellingShingle cattle
animal breeding
Galukande, E.
Mulindwa, H.
Wurzinger, Maria
Roschinky, R.
Okeyo Mwai, Ally
Sölkner, Johann
Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
title Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
title_full Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
title_fullStr Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
title_short Cross-breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics: achievements, challenges and opportunities
title_sort cross breeding cattle for milk production in the tropics achievements challenges and opportunities
topic cattle
animal breeding
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34408
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