Can scientific breeding and natural veld productivity work together? Danie Bosman challenges the perception that performance recording, growth testing, breeding values and genomics necessarily undermine adaptation to natural grazing conditions. Using Nguni cattle as a practical example, he examines growth, tick resistance, cow size, feed and lick consumption, fertility and total weaning output. The article argues that objective measurements and breeding values, combined with visual assessment and knowledge of the production environment, can help breeders identify adapted, productive cows and make more profitable selection decisions without sacrificing functional efficiency.
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