Abstract:

Beef cattle seed industry constitutes the core foundation of the modern beef cattle sector, bears implications for the supply security of beef, and serves as a strategically fundamental pillar for animal husbandry. In implementing the policy requirements of the National Beef Cattle Genetic Improvement Plan (2021-2035), it is imperative to break through bottlenecks in germplasm source technologies and enhance the core competitiveness of the industry. Meanwhile, targeted efforts are required to address mismatches between breeding practices and industrial development for "Taihang Cloud Cattle", a distinctive beef cattle breed independently developed in Shanxi Province. This paper reviews the genetic improvement process of "Taihang Cloud Cattle" spanning more than half a century of crossbreeding improvement and systematic selective breeding. It summarizes its breeding system established through crossbreeding improvement, strain purification and standardized selective breeding based on indigenous yellow cattle germplasm resources, clarifies breeding objectives and technical routes at each developmental stage, comprehensively evaluates its improvement outcomes and germplasm advantages in production performance, stress resistance, meat quality and other traits, and defines its industrial application value. Aligned with the national strategy for seed industry revitalization and the advancement of modern biological breeding technologies, this study systematically analyzes prominent disconnects between breeding research and industrial development of "Taihang Cloud Cattle", identifying major shortcomings including insufficient alignment between breeding orientation and market demand, sluggish achievement transformation mechanisms, imperfect improved breeding stock reproduction systems, and inadequate technology popularization and application. To date, "Taihang Cloud Cattle" has evolved from a conventional local yellow cattle variety into a specialized beef breed with relatively high economic value, marking phased achievements in its genetic improvement program. Focusing on core challenges constraining "Taihang Cloud Cattle" breeding and the development of the provincial beef cattle seed industry, and in light of relevant national strategies and technological trends, this paper proposes developmental pathways such as constructing a data-driven joint breeding platform, promoting integrated development across the whole industrial chain, and innovating technology extension models. The findings provide theoretical references and practical guidance for high-quality development of the beef cattle seed industry in Shanxi Province.

Key words: Beef cattle, Genetic improvement, "Taihang Cloud Cattle"