Summary
This paper presents a framework for defining breeding objectives for dairy cattle that reflect the economic and management realities of low, medium, and high-intensity production systems in tropical regions. Rather than applying uniform breeding goals, the authors develop differentiated trait priorities based on production environment and income context, recognising that trait economic weights vary substantially with intensification level and resource constraints.
Regional applicability
Whilst focused on tropical dairy systems, the methodological approach to contextualising breeding objectives by production intensity may inform UK breeding programmes as they respond to diverse farm scales and sustainability priorities. However, direct applicability is limited given differences in climate, feed base, and market conditions between UK temperate and tropical systems.
Key measures
Economic values of dairy production traits; breeding indices; genetic merit criteria stratified by production system intensity
Outcomes reported
The study examined optimal breeding objectives and trait priorities for dairy cattle under low, medium, and high production systems in tropical environments. It likely assessed economic values and genetic merit indices tailored to each production intensity level.
Topic tags
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