Abstract

Crossbreeding strategy may have a major economic impact in tropical dairy production. Important heterosis is the rule, both for productive and adaptive traits, particularly in the more stressful environments, so FI of Boa tauAuA x B. indicia crosses show superior performance in most circumstances. Differences between breeds/crosses become more apparent when important components of overall economic merit are not disregarded, such as herdlife, survival, lactation length and milk quality. Given the importance of genotype x environment interactions, matching cattle germplasm to other available resources is crucial for economic production. A continuous FI heifer replacement scheme may have sound economic basis, although other breeding strategies might be preferable depending on circumstances.
 

F. E Madalena

Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Volume XIV. Dairy cattle genetics and breeding, adaptation and conservation., , 310–319, 1990