Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
Reproductive and production traits were studied in a crossbreeding experiment involving Red Danish cattle, Indian milch breeds and native Zebu cattle in various combinations.
Frequency of abortions and postnatal mortality were higher for Red Danish than for Indian milch breeds and crossbreds, age at first calving was higher for Indian milch breeds than for other groups, calving interval was longer for purebreds than for crossbreds. Milk and butterfat production in first and second lactation increased with increasing proportion of genes from Red Danish cattle. The range of milk production in first lactation was from 987 kg for Indian milch breeds to 3445 kg for Red Danish imported from Denmark.
The optimum proportion of genes from Red Danish for the environmental conditions prevailing in the present crossbreeding experiment is considered to be 60 to 80%.