Population status and adaptive capacity of black-and-white cattle in the Agrocity area, Ulaanbaatar

Abstract

Sustainable agribusiness development relies on productive and well-adapted livestock populations to ensure food security and support dairy farming systems. This study evaluated the population structure, production performance, genetic diversity, and environmental adaptability of Black-and-White (Holstein-type) cattle in the Agro-City regions of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia an important hub for intensive dairy production. The area maintains 23,500 cattle, including 5,300 Black-and-White and crossbred cows, accounting for 54.1% of the national population of this breed and supplying approximately 28.1 million liters of milk annually to urban consumers. Localized Black-and-White cows produced an average of 3,277 ± 220.9 kg of milk per lactation, with mean fat and protein contents of 3.55% and 3.1%. Reproductive indicators included a 267.6 ± 16.5-day lactation length, 395.3 ± 21.1-day calving interval, 84.0% conception rate, 1.2 calvings per year, and 96.4% calf survival, resulting in an overall reproductive efficiency of 80.0%. Genetic analysis showed moderate variability, with an inbreeding coefficient of 0.31 and expected heterozygosity of 0.627. After more than 15 generations since their introduction from Russia, the population demonstrated strong climatic resilience, with an adaptability index of 4.23. Overall, the localized Black-and-White population represents a well-adapted genetic resource with significant potential to enhance sustainable and intensive dairy production in Mongolia’s Agro-City region.