Abstract
<jats:p>The article discusses the establishment, evolution, current status, and future development prospects of the native Kazakh Whiteheaded cattle breed. It substantiates the creation of a domestic beef breed, the selection of foundation breeds for reproductive crossbreeding, and the consideration of natural and climatic conditions. The paper also presents materials on the adaptive characteristics of imported beef cattle, particularly Hereford cattle of various genotypes and countries of origin, in the region where the Kazakh Whiteheaded breed was developed. It is noted that among slaughter cattle groups, the local Kyrgyz (Kazakh) cattle were considered the most suitable for export and for meeting the demands of foreign consumers. Local Kazakh cattle were valued for their ability to deposit fat not only around internal organs and on the carcass but also between muscle fibers, giving the meat a marbled appearance. It is emphasized that Hereford cattle imported from Canada were better adapted to harsher climatic conditions than those imported from England. In recent years, in accordance with changing market demands for beef quality, new promising breeding lines, intrabreed, and zonal types of the Kazakh Whiteheaded breed have been developed. As of January 1, 2026, the genetic potential of the Kazakh Whiteheaded breed in the breeding herds of the Republic of Kazakhstan is represented by animals from 32 breeding lines with a total pedigree population of 90,959 head. The live weight indicators of seven bulls aged 18–24 months exceeded the requirements of the elite and elite-record classes. For example, the bull KZS 180338765 named “Porsh” from the Veteran 7880 breeding line of Galitskoye LLP had a live weight of 688 kg at 19 months of age, while the bull KZL 101461335 named “Kaisar” from the Kaktus 7969 AZKB-69 breeding line of Ankatinsky LLP weighed 610 kg at 24 months, exceeding the elite-record class standard by 10 kg. At the current stage, work with the Kazakh Whiteheaded breed is aimed at improving its gene pool to meet the demand for pedigree animals with valuable genotypes, and at selecting new lines with genetically determined combinations of high growth intensity and live weight. Their breeding under a unified regional program will make it possible to create zonal types that differentiate the breed into large structural elements and stimulate its further progress.</jats:p>