Summary
This conference paper, presented at the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production in 2018, proposed a practical approach for selecting cattle breeding stock according to sustainability traits suited to pasture-based farming systems. The authors, a multidisciplinary team including researchers from UK agricultural institutions, synthesised methodology for identifying heritable traits that balance productivity with environmental and grassland management objectives. The work represents applied guidance for producers and breeding programmes seeking to align genetic improvement with sustainable grazing system principles.
UK applicability
Directly applicable to United Kingdom beef and sheep farming systems, particularly upland and grassland enterprises where pasture-based production predominates. The framework could inform UK breeding society standards and Defra policy on sustainable intensification of grazing systems.
Key measures
Breeding trait criteria for sustainability; genetic selection indices; cattle performance metrics in pasture systems
Outcomes reported
The study outlined a framework for identifying and selecting cattle breeding traits that enhance sustainability performance in grazing systems. The work addressed trait selection methodologies relevant to pasture-based beef and sheep production.
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