Advantages and disadvantages of cross-breeding in dairy cattle, focusing in particular on Holstein cattle

Advantages and disadvantages of cross-breeding in dairy cattle, focusing in particular on Holstein cattle The Holstein cow is from a global perspective dominant in milk production. The Holstein cow has significant advantages in milk production; however, it unfortunately also has some disadvantages, especially regarding its fitness traits. The low heritability of the most important fitness traits, such as fertility, along with the high rate of stillbirth and calving difficulties (dystocia) and the short productive life, unfortunately mean that a purebred population (eg Holstein) can only be expected to make slow genetic progress by selection. Various breeds have been crossed with Holstein in recent years in order to test the advantages and disadvantages of different crosses. The main results are described in this paper.