BREEDING AND PRODUCTION OF NATIVE CATTLE BREEDS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Buša, istarsko govedo i slavonsko-srijemski podolac sastavni su dio genetske raznolikosti te demografske i kulturne baštine Republike Hrvatske. Izvorne pasmine goveda oduvijek imaju veliku ulogu u životu lokalnog stanovništva. Primarno su se koristile za rad, no bile su i ostale izvor mesa i mlijeka, danas proizvoda s dodanom vrijednosti. Uzgoj izvornih pasmina goveda tijekom zadnjih dvadesetak godina obuhvatio je brojne promišljene postupke u cilju oporavka, očuvanja i uzgoja pasmina sukladno tradiciji. Populacijski trendovi pokazuju porast broja rasplodnih jedinki, s najmanjim brojem rasplodnih krava i bikova u pasmine slavonsko-srijemski podolac. Za održavanje genetske raznolikosti unutar pasmina od ključne su važnosti buduće strategije razvoja, usavršavanje uzgojnih programa, suradnja udruga uzgajivača sa znanstvenim i drugim institucijama te zajedničko nastojanje da se poveća broj rasplodnih jedinki, u čemu bitnu ulogu ima poboljšanje sustava uzgoja te upravljanje proizvodnošću i zaštitom zdravlja stada.Busha cattle, Istrian cattle and Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle are an integral part of the genetic diversity, and demographic and cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia. Native cattle breeds have been playing a major role in the life of the local population. They were primarily used as working animals, but they were also a source of meat and milk, today value-added products. The breeding of native cattle breeds during the last twenty years included a number of thoughtful procedures with a purpose of reaffirmation, preserving and breeding these breeds in accordance with the tradition. Population trends show an increase in the number of breeding individuals, with the lowest number of breeding cows and bulls in the Slavonian Syrmian Podolian cattle. Future development strategies, improvement of breeding programmes, cooperation of breeders' associations with scientific and other institutions, and joint efforts to increase the number of breeding individuals are of key importance for maintaining genetic diversity within breeds, in which the improvement of the breeding systems and the production and herd health management play an important role