Abstract
In the tropics, ruminant species rarely are kept for a single purpose; they are used for meat, milk, draft, fibre and, sometimes, for the production of dung as a fertiliser. Because of small herd sizes and complex objectives, and the requirement for tolerance to stresses not found in temperate zones, the development of breeding programs is a difficult task. However, high population growth rates and economic pressures for increased self-sufficiency demands greater production efficiency from ruminants in the tropics. Numerous arguments have been used against animal breeding options but there seems to be no a priori reason why genetic progress is not possible. An increased effort in understanding the biological interactions between production and adaptation so that a set of criteria can be established. This is especially true if breeding programs are to be established for small holders.
Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Volume XI. Genetics of reproduction, lactation, growth, adaptation, disease, and parasite resistance., , 451–461, 1986
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