1Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Orathanadu-614 625, Tamil Nadu, India
2Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Namakkal-637 002, Tamil Nadu, India
3Mecheri Sheep Research Station, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pottaneri, Salem-636 453, Tamil Nadu, India
4Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai-600 007, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding Author: B. Balasundaram, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Orathanadu-614 625, Tamil Nadu, India, Email: balasundaram.b@tanuvas.ac.in
Online published on 31 July, 2023.
The general practice of selection of dairy animals concentrating high milk production has unwanted consequences like occurrence of health problems and fertility issues. Functional traits, including health and fertility, have significant genetic association with production and reproduction performance traits. Functionally superior dairy cows are healthy and sustained producers of healthful food for calves and human consumption. Improvement in functional traits rises the economy of dairy farmers by reducing the cost of input. These facts emphasised the inclusion of functional traits along with other economically important traits in selection criteria for the improvement of dairy animals. Hence, most of the dairy advanced countries have included genetic evaluation of functional traits as a routine practice in their dairy cattle selection programmes. In India, comparatively limited works have been carried out on functional traits and it suggested exploring more on this area for further development of the dairy sector. This review details the importance of inclusion of functional traits in genetic evaluation of dairy cattle for overall development of the dairy industry.
Calving traits, Estimated breeding value, Feet and leg traits, Fertility, Heritability, Total merit index, Udder health traits
