The heritability estimates of age at first calving (AFC), first lactation 305-day or less milk yield (FL305DMY) and first service period (FSP) of Sahiwal cattle ranged from zero to 0.80 ± 0.10, 0.04 ± 0.08 to 0.95 ± 0.24 and zero to 0.50 ± 0.18, respectively. Genetic correlation of AFC with FL305DMY and FSP ranged from -0.72 ± 0.22 to 0.44 and -0.83 ± 0.63 to 0.64 ± 0.001, respectively. However, genetic correlation of FL305DMY with FSP ranged from -0.90 ± 0.07 to 0.40 ± 0.36. The heritability estimates of the FSP was found to be low indicated the little scope for the genetic improvement; while higher heritability estimates of AFC and FL305DMY indicated the wide scope for further improvement in this traits through selection.
The poor productivity as well as the quality of production, therefore, remains a cause of concern in livestock sector. To improve milk production in the country, since 1960s, multi-pronged approaches in breeding, health cover, feeding and marketing were initiated by the Government through various development programmes. Cross-breeding and up-gradation were one amongst these to improve the productivity of indigenous cattle. Beneficiaries respondents shown considerable improvement in information seeking behavior (84.52%), family education status (47.76%) and land holding (8.19%) pattern after adoption of cross-breeding programme. Income and employment generation were also improved among beneficiaries as compared to non-beneficiaries.
