The effect of breeding region and animals breed on milk production traits of dairy cows under heat stress conditions

Heat stress has become a significant and frequent issue on dairy cattle farms. This study aimed to determine the variability in daily milk production traits due to breeding region and breed. The analysis utilized 194,834 test-day records. Results indicated that cows in the Podunavski region achieved the highest daily milk yield (18.61 kg/day), followed by the Šumadijski (17.64 kg/day) and Mačvanski regions (16.94 kg/day). Holstein-Friesian cows produced the most milk (18.91 kg/day), followed by Red Holstein (18.84 kg/day), Simmental (16.67 kg/day), and Brown Swiss cows (16.51 kg/day). Brown Swiss cows had the highest milk fat content (4.04%), while Simmental and Holstein cows showed higher milk protein content (3.21%). The study underscores the importance of considering regional and breed-specific factors in managing heat stress, advocating for balanced selective breeding and tailored management practices to enhance resilience and sustain dairy production amid climate change.