The article presents the analysis of the state (number, prevalence and ways of preservation) of the main breeds of dairy-meat and meat-milk direction of productivity, bred in different natural-climatic, organizational-economic and fodder conditions of Russia’s regions. We present foreign breeding experience of Brown Swiss and Simmental breeds. The number of almost all mixed breeds of cattle is decreasing, and a number of them are in critical condition and on the verge of extinction. The expediency of preserving cattle breeds of mixed productivity direction is obvious – it is dictated by their high adaptability to natural-climatic and economic conditions of breeding areas, long-term productive use, lifelong productivity, high production indicators, resistance to a number of dangerous diseases and other valuable qualities. It is worth making maximum efforts and resources to preserve the gene pool of small and endangered animal breeds
Keywords
cattle, Cattle, mixed breeds, numbers, current status, ways of conservation