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Crossbreeding in cattle is done to achieve ______.
Longer lactation and disease resistance
Excessive draught power
Reduced milk production
Only higher milk fat content
Longer lactation and disease resistance
Crossbreeding is a breeding strategy in animal husbandry where two different breeds are mated to combine desirable traits into the offspring. In cattle, this is primarily performed to merge the high milk yield of exotic breeds with the heat tolerance and disease resistance of indigenous breeds.
Crossbreeding is a breeding strategy in animal husbandry where two different breeds are mated to combine desirable traits into the offspring. In cattle, this is primarily performed to merge the high milk yield of exotic breeds with the heat tolerance and disease resistance of indigenous breeds.
Think of it like mixing a fast sports car engine (high yield) with a rugged off-road chassis (disease resistance) to create a vehicle that is both fast and capable of driving on rough terrain.
L.D.P. - Long (Lactation), Disease (resistance), Production (Milk).
H=MPF1тАЛтИТMPтАЛ├Ч100 тАФ where H represents heterosis, F1тАЛ is the average performance of the crossbred generation, and MP is the mean performance of the parental breeds.
The principle involves 'Heterosis' or hybrid vigor, where the offspring show superior characteristics compared to their parents. By crossing a high-yielding exotic breed (like Holstein-Friesian) with a hardy indigenous breed (like Sahiwal), breeders improve the genetic potential for both production and adaptability to local environmental stressors.
Crossbreeding utilizes the genetic diversity of cattle populations.
It aims to improve both economic traits (milk yield) and biological survival traits (immunity).
It helps in adapting exotic genes to tropical climates.
Increased milk production capacity
Enhanced resistance to tropical parasites and diseases
Earlier maturity and better fertility rates
Potential loss of unique indigenous genetic markers
Requires careful management to prevent inbreeding depression in future generations
Karan Fries cattle breed development in India
Improvement of dairy herd productivity in tropical regions
Heterosis is the tendency of a crossbred individual to show qualities superior to those of both parents.
Option B (Draught power) is usually a trait of indigenous bullocks, not the primary goal of modern dairy crossbreeding. Option C is the opposite of the goal, and Option D is only one factor, ignoring health and production volume.
A is correct тАФ Crossbreeding in cattle is strategically used to combine high-yielding exotic genetics with the robust disease resistance and endurance of local breeds.
Always remember that in Indian competitive exams, 'Crossbreeding' is almost synonymous with improving 'Milk Yield' and 'Adaptability' simultaneously.