Disadvantages of Cross-Breeding
Among the disadvantages of cross-breeding is that the natural traits of the parents are not completely transferred to the offspring’s rather, it is shared. For instance: a cow with good milk production cross-bred with the one having good meat production will result in an offspring that will have both good meat and good milk but will not be as pure as those of the parents.
Also, if adequate care is not taken and a bigger male is used in mating a female with smaller size, foetal oversize may occur which may result to inability of the female to deliver on her own.
This could be a disadvantage because of the risk involved and the cost of caesarian operation if it has to be carried out.
See also: Advantages of Cross-Breeding
Cross-breeding Disadvantages
The major disadvantages of cross-breeding are that crossbreds also have the weaknesses of the breeds from which they descend and heterosis in initial crosses declines with any backcrossing to parental breeds.
Interest in crossbreeding has been steadily increasing. Commercial producers want to know what to expect when crossing two or even three breeds together. However, cross-breeding is not an exact science. Research is being conducted to help predict the outcome of cross-breeding.
•Loss of milk production
•Lower value for animals (dairy or slaughter value)
•Genetic improvement limited to breed improvement (small populations = less selection intensity = less improvement)
•Loss of uniformity of herd – cow size differs making it more difficult to feed properly and increases challenges in providing good cow comfort. In some parlors, differences in size of cows can be very challenging.
Now it’s time to consider some of the potentially negative aspects of cross breeding. Many cross breeders downplay the significance of these points, but they are still worth considering.
Difficult to Predict Temperaments
Pure breeds have been developed for different purposes, and their temperaments match those purposes closely. For example, Rottweilers tend to have bold and sometimes aggressive temperaments because they have been bred to be working guard dogs. Poodles were bred to hunt and be wonderful family companions. It would be difficult to predict the exact type of personality a cross-breeding between these two dogs might produce.
Hard to Predict Adult Size
Size really can be an issue for some potential owners, especially if they live in a small home with limited yard space. If both parents are similar in size, you can expect the pups will probably be about the same size as adults. However, it would be extremely difficult for the average pet owner to predict the ultimate size of a cross between a Doberman Pinscher and a Boston Terrier.
Potential for High Risk Deliveries
From a pregnancy perspective, breeding dogs of different sizes can sometimes lead to difficult deliveries. This is especially so if the stud is much larger than the bitch, or he comes from a large-headed breed. A bitch of a different breed may have more difficulty pushing the puppies out, and she may require a C-section in order for her and her mixed breed puppies to survive.
Still a Strong Chance for Congenital Health Issues
Many congenital health issues, such as hip dysplasia, eye diseases, epilepsy and kidney disease, are found across multiple breeds. This means these conditions are still likely to show up in crossbred pups if both parents are carriers of one or more of the same genetic problems.
May Be More Expensive Than a Purebred
With all the interest in “designer dogs,” some mixed breed dogs go for $1,000 or more. The average purebred puppy often costs between $300 to $500 unless it’s an extremely popular or rare breed.
Related: Methods of Livestock Breeding in the Tropical Environment
Thank you for posting this! It helped me with my presentation about crossbreeding, however I have a question. When you said that the offspring in the example will not produce good milk, will they also not produce as much milk as the parent? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
@Annette, Am Glad I could be of help and as for your question, No question is a “stupid” question ok? you are very free to ask anything you need more clarification on anytime. Well i never said that the offspring will not produce good milk in fact I said that the offspring will produce “good milk”( which means that they will produce as much as the parents) only that the milk will or may not be as pure as those of the parents.
Plsisf a sabarian husky should cross a Rott, what in your opinion do you think the offsprings will look like, what traits will they possess
@las, although I haven’t tried this particular crossbreeding before, but in my opinion following the crossbreeding trend I think the offsprings will somehow posses the qualities of a Sabarian husky as well as that of a Rott. I may be wrong anyway because am not certain about this. Like I said, I haven’t practically tried it before to ascertain the information maybe you could also give it a try who knows?
Thanks for posting this! I find this useful. Cross breeding is not always the case for farm animals. And also, this article helped me plan for a test I had on this exact topic. Thanks for the information.
Am Glad I could help