PERSPECTIVES OF MILK PRODUCTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA USING MODERN METHODS OF COW SELECTION AND BREEDING

Cow milk accounts for approximately 97% of the total milk production in the Republic of Serbia. The focus of this paper is on the milk production of Simmental cows, which are produced in the territory of central Serbia, where this breed is the most represented with over 75% of the total number of cattle, which is not surprising considering that the Herd book for this breed was established in 1935. However, the achieved results are not in accordance with the tradition and popularity of the breed. Namely, the results of the average milk production in the last 10 years for cows that are under the control of breeding organizations show a positive trend, however, the milk production is at a very low level. The average annual milk yield per cow in 2014 was only 4741 kg of milk, while in 2023 it was around 5100 kg.
\nThe progress in milk production so far has been achieved to the greatest extent by the application of artificial insemination of cows with the semen of high-quality bulls. In recent years, sex- determined semen has been used to a greater extent. The evaluation of the breeding value of bulls in the progeny test is performed using mixed statistical models (BLUP sire model and BLUP model of the individual animal, i.e., BLUP-AM).
\nIn order to improve the productive capacity of the herd, as well as to solve challenges such as low heritability traits, gender-limited traits, traits that are difficult to quantify, etc., it is necessary for the wide use of modern selection methods (genomic selection, MAS selection, genome sequencing, genetic modification, etc.) in the population of dairy cattle in the Republic of Serbia to become the standard.