Improvement of mastitis resistance and milk production in Sudanese dairy cattle breeds using genetic association information

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The improvement of milk production is a key objective for the Sudanese government to ensure adequate nutrition and boost rural incomes. Achieving this goal requires enhancing herd management and feeding practices in the short term, alongside establishing a robust long-term animal breeding strategy. This involves improving the performance of indigenous breeds and their crosses. Among these, the Bos indicus Zebu cattle Butana is the most prevalent breed for milk production in Sudan, well-adapted to extreme environmental conditions such as high temperatures, low feed availability, and tropical diseases. To enhance Butana cattle productivity, they have been crossed with the high-yielding Holstein Friesian breed. Additionally, genetic selection for higher milk yield and reduced susceptibility to mastitis—an issue affecting dairy production globally—could further improve outcomes. This research aims to develop breeding programs for Sudan, focusing on three specific objectives: (1) evaluating the productivity of purebred Butana and Butana × Holstein crossbred cattle under various management and feeding systems, (2) analyzing mastitis incidence and its genetic markers in both purebred and crossbred cattle, and (3) investigating the genetic impact of the DGAT1 gene on milk yield and composition in these cattle.