Mirandes cattle breed: genetic base and breed improvement

The "mirandês cattle breed has had a herd book since 1913 and the agricultural service has implemented a programme of genetic improvemment since the 70's. However, in spite of what has been expected, positive results weren't found on that programme and the "mirandês" cattle breed has gone into a decline. This paper analyses the strategies of several cattle breeder types and the genetic demographic structure of cattle within a community in northeast of Portugal.The present organization of the breed improvement, centered on cattle breeders of pure breed and on farms whith a great number of cows, does not permit genetic improvement. The alternative to the present situation consists of expanding the selection basis, integrating a conceptual level with all farmers. implementation of a process to work within the middle of a population of many breeders in the community