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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

E. Galukande
Affiliation:
National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, Entebbe, Uganda BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
H. Mulindwa
Affiliation:
BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya National Livestock Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
M. Wurzinger*
Affiliation:
BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
R. Roschinsky
Affiliation:
BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria National Livestock Resources Research Institute, Kampala, Uganda
A.O. Mwai
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
J. Sölkner
Affiliation:
BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
*
Correspondence to: Maria Wurzinger, BOKU –University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria and Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Division of Livestock Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Street 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria. email: maria.wurzinger@boku.ac.at
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Summary

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.

Resumen

Este artículo hace un repaso por las experiencias obtenidas con el cruzamiento de razas para la producción de leche en los trópicos. Se recopilaron datos de 23 estudios diferentes que evaluaron los rendimientos de animales con distinto grado de cruce así como de animales de razas autóctonas. Se compararon los rendimientos de las razas autóctonas con los de animales con distinto grado de cruce para tres zonas climáticas. Las características consideradas fueron el rendimiento lechero por lactación, la edad al primer parto, el número de servicios por concepción, la producción lechera total a lo largo de la vida del animal y el número total de lactaciones completadas. Con un 50 por ciento de sangre Bos taurus, los rendimientos lecheros por lactación fueron 2,6, 2,4 y 2,2 veces mayores que los del ganado bovino autóctono en las zonas climáticas de las Tierras Altas, Tropical Húmeda y Seca y Semiárida, respectivamente; la duración de la lactación se incrementó en 1,2, 1,2 y 1,9 meses en las zonas climáticas anteriormente mencionadas, respectivamente; el intervalo entre partos y la edad al primer parto se redujeron, respectivamente, 0,8 y 0,9 veces. Asimismo, los animales cruzados con una genética 50 por ciento Bos taurus tuvieron rendimientos lecheros, para la totalidad de su vida productiva, 1,8 veces mayores y un número total de lactaciones 1,2 veces mayor. Si bien el cruzamiento implica afrontar una serie de retos como una mejor infraestructura o una mayor demanda de atención sanitaria, su uso presenta múltiples ventajas como son una mayor productividad por animal, mayores ingresos para las familias y el aprovisionamiento en alimentos de alto valor. Por ello, el cruzamiento seguirá seguramente siendo una importante herramienta de mejora del ganado en los Trópicos, donde los ganaderos pueden aportar las condiciones adecuadas de manejo para mantener animales con elevadas necesidades, garantizándose así el acceso al mercado de la leche.

Résumé

Ce travail de synthèse fait le point des expériences obtenues avec le croisement de races pour la production laitière sous les tropiques. Les données de 23 études différentes ayant évalué les performances d'animaux avec différent degré de croisement ainsi que ceux d'animaux de races indigènes ont été compilées. Les performances des races indigènes ont été comparées à celles d'animaux avec différent degré de croisement pour trois zones climatiques. Les caractères considérés ont été la production laitière par lactation, l'âge au premier vêlage, le nombre de services par conception, la production laitière sur la durée de la vie de l'animal et le nombre total de lactations complétées. Avec un 50 pour cent de sang Bos taurus, les productions laitières par lactation ont été 2,6, 2,4 et 2,2 fois plus élevées que celles des bovins indigènes dans les zones climatiques des Hauts-Plateaux, Tropicale Humide et Sèche et Semi-aride, respectivement; la durée de la lactation a augmenté de 1,2, 1,2 et 1,9 mois dans les susdites zones climatiques, respectivement; l'intervalle entre mises bas et l'âge au premier vêlage ont été, respectivement, 0,8 et 0,9 fois plus bas. De même, les animaux croisés à 50 pour cent de sang Bos taurus ont eu des productions laitières, sur la durée de leur vie, et un nombre total de lactations 1,8 et 1,2 fois plus élevés, respectivement. Bien que le croisement suppose affronter des défis tels qu'une meilleure infrastructure ou une plus grande demande en soins sanitaires, son usage comporte de nombreux avantages, parmi lesquels une majeure productivité par animal, un revenu plus élevé pour les familles et l'approvisionnement en aliments de grande valeur. Ainsi, le croisement continuera certainement à être un outil important d'amélioration du bétail sous les Tropiques, où les éleveurs peuvent fournir les conditions adéquates d'élevage pour maintenir des animaux à forts besoins et s'assurer ainsi l'accès au marché du lait.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2013 

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