Crossbreeding in Cattle: a Review
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Barwa et al. Ind.Available J. Pure onlineApp. Biosci. at www.ijpab.com (2021) 9(1), xxx -xxx ISSN: 2582 – 2845 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8534 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2021) 9(1), 450-456 Review Article Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Open Access Journal Crossbreeding in Cattle: A Review Deepti Kiran Barwa1*, Asit Jain2, Ashutosh Dubey3 and Aayush Yadav4 1,2Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, 3,4Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Livestock Production College of Veterinary Science & A.H., Anjora, Durg, Chhattisgarh India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 10.12.2020 | Revised: 14.01.2021 | Accepted: 20.01.2021 ABSTRACT The importance of crossbreeding in livestock species has been known for a long time; it has been used heavily in cattle to improve productivity for several decades. Crossbreeding allow to combine favorable characteristics from the breeds involved and to exploit heterosis. Crossbreeding system is of two types viz. terminal and continuous depending on retention of crossbred female in the herd or not. In cattle crossbreeding is mainly used to improve milk production in India while in tropics crossbreeding with zebu cattle is done to improve adoptability and disease resistant ability. The ideal exotic inheritance to be maintained in the indigenous cattle is 50% where there is scarcity of green fodder and 62.5% is suggested where there is adequate feed and fodder along with good marketing facilities. Though crossbreeding with exotic germplasm resulted in improves production and reproduction potential but it also resulted in dilution of indigenous livestock. Exotic breeds are more susceptible to tropical diseases, harsh climate and poor quality feed and fodder and as the crossbreds which required constant input of good managemental conditions in comparison to the native cattle. Therefore, it is advisable to use crossbreeding with caution based on tested bulls or semen, quality fodder and suitable breeds for particular region in India. Keywords: Crossbreeding, Synthetic breeds, Inheritance. INTRODUCTION 25.4% to the total milk production in the The milk production in the country was 17.0 country (BAHFS, DAHD & F, AHS series- million tonnes during 1950-51 and has 18). Among numbers of initiative under-taken increased to 165.4 million tonnes in 2016-17. by the government for improving the Also, the per capita availability of milk in productivity of milk over the period; 1950-51 was 130 gm/day and has increased to crossbreeding was the major step. 355 gm/day in 2016-17. The indigenous and Crossbreeding is systematic mating system of non-descript cattle contribute 11.3% and 9.5% two or more well defined breeds within the respectively while exotic/crossbred contribute same species. Cite this article: Barwa, D. K., Jain, A., Dubey, A., & Yadav, A. (2021). Crossbreeding in Cattle: A Review, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 9(1), 450-456. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8534 Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2021; IJPAB 450 Barwa et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2021) 9(1), xxx-xxx ISSN: 2582 – 2845 The history of crossbreeding in India dates as extreme parent breeds (Simm, 2000). One of far back as 1875 when William Taylor, the the most important reasons of crossbreeding is Commissioner of Patna Division started an to obtain benefits of heterosis. Heterosis is industrial institution by raising public fund. highest in first generation and then reduced to Taylor breed was developed by crossing half in the second generation, so it is advisable Shorthorn cattle with local cow (Sinha, 1951). that the F1 crossbred females should be bred Later in 1934, a new bred called –“Jersindh” with genetically superior progeny-tested was developed by crossing Jersey and Red crossbred males having exotic inheritance Sindhi at Military Dairy farm, Allahabad and between 50 and 75% (Sreenivas, 2013). at Bangalore by crossing Jersey and Crossbreeding mostly done in animals due to- Tharparkar a new breed “Jerthar” was 1. To take advantage of complementation- developed ( Wakchaure et al., 2015). In 1963, Crossbreeding allows combining of the at Kerala using Brown Swiss and Jersey (5/8) traits from both the breeds which are better on local Non- descript cows and a new breed in one another or from sire and dam breed. of cattle “Sunandini” was developed (Chacko, This increases the efficiency of the whole 1994). Since then, many breeds of cattle were production system. For example: Reduce developed and some are well known for their age at first calving, high milk production milk production. from sire breed and good adaptability, Crossbreeding is the most effective disease resistant ability from dam breed. and rapid approach for genetically improving 2. Averaging breed effect- Crossbred animals the non-descript zebu cattle population by are having traits which are the result of crossing with exotic dairy cattle breeds crossing of two distinct breeds and they particularly in milk shed areas around peri- are intermediate for each trait which might urban and industrial towns. In these areas there be more profitable overall. So, are good marketing facilities for milk and milk crossbreeding increases the efficiency of products and also green fodder and quality each animal in the production system. feed are present around the year. 3. Crossbreeding is done to grade up the non- Crossbreeding experiences with exotic dairy descript breeds and thus improving their cattle breeds like Holstein Friesian, Brown performance. Swiss and Jersey has proved that there is rapid 4. Crossbreeding is a step forward to create a genetic improvement in the non-descript cattle new synthetic breed or composite breed. and marked improvement in productivity. 5. Crossbreeding is done sometime to Holstein Friesian cattle have been introduce a specific gene. For example: recommended as the breed of choice in the Brahma breed is used in crossbreeding to irrigated plains and Jersey cattle as breed of introduce tick resistance in European choice in hilly terrain and coastal areas for breed. crossbreeding. Exotic inheritance in crossbred 6. Finaly, the most important reason for cattle should be maintained in between 50 and crossbreeding is to exploit heterosis. 62.5%. Beyond this exotic inheritance the Heterosis is usually more for traits which crossbred acquires the problem of adoptability are low heritable i.e. fitness, reproductive and other diseases like mastitis, milk fever, and production traits. FMD etc. System of crossbreeding Reasons of crossbreeding- A planned crossbreeding definitely increases The reason for crossbreeding is to increase the the production. There are many crossbreeding overall efficiency of a production system system which can be used for genetic through crossing breeds which have their improvement in animals depending on types of genetic merits in different traits and to produce heterosis required (direct or maternal) number individual dairy cattle with intermediate of breeds to be used in crossbreeding and performance between that of two more whether or not replacement females are Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2021; IJPAB 451 Barwa et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2021) 9(1), xxx-xxx ISSN: 2582 – 2845 produced or purchased. On the basis of breeds are first crossed and the resulting whether or not replacement females are female crossbred is then crossed with third produced or purchased crossbreeding is of breed also called as terminal sire to mainly two types- (A) Terminal and (B) produce offspring which are used for Rotational crossbreeding system. production. (A) Terminal crossbreeding system: In this 4. Four breed cross or Double cross: Four system of crossbreeding females are not breeds are used in this system. Two breeds retained in the herd, they are purchased say A and B are crossed and on other side from outside herds. Terminal breed C and D are crossed, the crossbred crossbreeding system uses direct or produced from both these crosses are then individual heterosis. Terminal crossing is crossed with each other (AxB crossed to used to combine the strengths of two or CxD). more breeds, this is what is known as 5. Back cross: Two breeds are crossed (AxB) “Breed Complementarity”; this is mainly the male calved are sold while the female done to achieve a higher frequency of calves are back crossed to unrelated males desirable traits among crossbreds than that of one of the parental breeds. It take found in a single breed. Breed advantage of both maternal as well as complementarity means potency of one individual heterosis. breed complement the weakness of (B) Rotational or continuous crossing: It differ another breed. For example; Native breeds from terminal cross in that it produces its are having good adaptability and disease replacement females for further crossing resistance but poor in milk production and sire are purchased from outside to while the exotic breeds are poor in avoid inbreeding. Thus, crossbred adaptability and are susceptible to tropical offspring have two functions: heifers are diseases but good in milk production. In saved for replacement while other breed complementation sires and dams offspring are either sold out or reared for which are being used must be different and commercial purpose. Methods of must possess complementary traits. Some rotational crossing are- of the terminal crossbreeding systems are- 1. Two-breed rotational crossing or criss- 1. Two pure breed cross: This is the simplest crossing: It is a crossbreeding system in crossbreeding system. In this two different which two breeds are used in sequence so breeds are crossed to produce F1 offspring it is also called as criss-crossing. First which are used for production purpose and males of breed A is crossed with female of not for breeding. This system maintains breed B then females (AxB) from this full extent of heterozygosity and so as the cross is allow to cross with males of breed heterosis.