Summary
This conference paper presents a framework for selecting cattle with traits that enhance sustainability performance in pasture-based systems. The authors, representing institutions across grassland research and livestock genetics, appear to synthesise selection criteria applicable to extensive grazing environments, drawing on genetic and phenotypic approaches. The work suggests that systematic trait selection can align cattle breeding objectives with the agronomic and environmental goals of pasture-based farming.
UK applicability
Highly applicable to UK pastoral farming, where grass-fed beef and sheep production predominate and breeding objectives increasingly incorporate environmental and resilience criteria. UK livestock farmers and breeding organisations use similar genetic evaluation frameworks, making the selection methodologies presented potentially directly transferable to British grassland systems.
Key measures
Criteria and methods for assessing cattle sustainability traits in pasture systems (specific metrics inferred to include feed efficiency, environmental adaptation, health resilience, and pasture utilisation)
Outcomes reported
The study addresses methodologies for identifying and selecting cattle breeds and individuals with traits suited to sustainable pasture-based production systems. It synthesises approaches to evaluating cattle performance across multiple sustainability criteria relevant to grazing systems.
Topic tags
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