*3.2.2 Crossbred dairy cattle*

A sizable population of cattle crossbreeds has recently emerged, and now represent 13% of Pakistan's total cattle population. Breeding policy allows the crossbreeding of nondescript cattle with Holstein, Friesian, and Jersey breeds, with the desired level of exotic inheritance being between 50 and 75%.

The productivity of dairy cattle crossbreeds is far higher than that of local nondescript or pure breeds, with longer lactation periods, higher milk production per lactation, and shorter calving intervals. These advantages make crossbred cattle highly preferred for intensive and semi-intensive dairy farming systems. Semen for crossbreeding programs is imported from countries such as the United States of America, the Netherlands, Germany, and Australia by private sector firms.
