Cattle breeding is an art that exemplifies the science and goes beyond the club of mere “selection” of breeds. Earlier, cattle farmers were in lack of tools and technologies that would provide them with the right breed of cattle. But day by day, genetic selection is oozing out to become the most powerful tool for cattle farmers in terms of cattle breeding. It has now become possible for cattle farmers to select particular traits from the cattle and develop an entire herd with that specific trait, thanks to genetic selection. It has even become possible two breeds and create a new breed, which becomes an ideal category of breed for cattle farmers.
Let’s understand what is Genetic Selection:
Basically, if one is looking for a particular trait to be inherited by the cattle of the next generation, then one can opt for selective breeding and choose the genetic traits of the next generation. Some common traits are milk production, disease resistance, yield productivity, etc.
Why should you go for selective breeding?
1. Animal Welfare
With selective breeding, farmers can rely on traits that improve the productivity of the cattle. Hereby, there is a difference in the growth rate, reproduction capacity, and also shows a significant impact on the milk-yielding capacity. This improves the overall welfare of the animals.
2.Reproduction
Going for a particular genetic selection can reduce the chances of infertility and enhance fertility. This aids you in propagating the idea of coming up with genetic breeds that are healthy for the society ar large.
3.Resistance against disease
With selective breeding, you can have a healthier herd. The resistance to common diseases would come naturally under selective breeding. Medical intervention in the farming processes will be reduced and you can lean on the idea of a healthy herd with genetic breeding.
What’s the process of Genetic Selection?
First of all, you will need to identify the traits that you are looking for in your herd. These traits vary from farm to farm and based on the requirement, you can finalize the list of traits like milk yielding, meat quality, growth, etc.
Once the traits are selected, you will have to identify the breed that you are looking forward to be the torch-bearers of that trait. You can rely on performance data, genetic testing, etc for this process.
Challenges:
Although, genetic breeding seems as the best solution but it has challenges of its own. Genetic diversity remains at stake if genetic selection is done in a large amount. Inbreeding is also prone to genetic diseases. If you focus on one particular trait for the breed, you will reduce the focus on the other traits that are present in the cattle. You will have to find the right balance between all the traits which seems to be difficult.
Conclusion:
Yes, genetic selection is a powerful tool for you to rely on while looking for the right type of cows. But while doing so, you should also keep in mind the environmental impact and the animal welfare. With the right amount, you can make genetic selection a bright source for the cattle industry.
