E.C.M. Oliveira, G.C. Medeiros, F.S. Baldi, G. Giacomini, R. Nuñez-Dominguez, J.P. Eler, R. Espigolan, L.T. Gama, J.B.S. Ferraz
Published: February 29, 2024
Genet. Mol. Res. 23(1): GMR19252
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr19252

Cite this Article:
E.C.M. Oliveira, G.C. Medeiros, F.S. Baldi, G. Giacomini, R. Nuñez-Dominguez, J.P. Eler, R. Espigolan, L.T. Gama, J.B.S. Ferraz (2024). Genetic structure of the Montana Beef Composite, a program to increase beef production in tropical and subtropical environment. Genet. Mol. Res. 23(1): GMR19252. https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr19252

About the Authors
E.C.M. Oliveira, G.C. Medeiros, F.S. Baldi, G. Giacomini, R. Nuñez-Dominguez, J.P. Eler, R. Espigolan, L.T. Gama, J.B.S. Ferraz

Corresponding Author
J.B.S. Ferraz
Email: jbferraz@usp.br

The aim of this paper is to describe in detail the development, over 30 years, of a large-size composite cattle population, destined for meat production in challenging environments in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of South America. Montana cattle were developed using crosses between Bos taurus and Bos indicus animals, and here we present details regarding the evolution of the breed, both numerically and in terms of the racial composition of the animals, and we assess the levels of heterosis and recombination and the genetic structure of the breed. Overall, given the continuous introduction of external germplasm, Montana Composite cattle have retained high levels of heterosis while maintaining inbreeding at very low levels.