Crossbreeding of Holstein with Some Dairy Cattle Breeds and Performance of Crossbred Cows

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Holstein is the most widely used dairy cattle breed in the world. Milk yield was significantly increased with genetic selection programs in Holstein dairy cattle. As a result of the selection program applied, inbreeding, calving difficulty and health problems were increased while fertility and livability were decreased. Holstein dairy cattle breeders began to search for alternatives to overcome these problems. Crossbreeding between dairy cattle breeds might have some contribution for the solution of the problems. To take advantage of heterosis often two-way or three-way rotational crosses were used. Although milk yields were lower in crossbreed, they have some advantages compared to pure Holstein cows as higher milk fat and protein ratios, lower live weight, longer herd life, lower rate of stillbirth, less disease and lower health expenses. In our country, the cattle breeders have started a crossbreeding program between Holstein and other dairy cattle breeds as crossbreeding in other countries. In this review, crossbreeding studies in dairy cattle was focused in terms of reasons and results.

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Dairy cattle , heterosis , milk yield , fertility

Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University

106

Journal Of The Faculty Of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University