What consequence might arise from crossing River and Swamp water buffalo types in breeding programs?

Hybrids may exhibit compromised traits, such as large Swamp horns coupled with low River milk yield potential.

Recognizing the deep genetic markers that distinguish the River and Swamp types is crucial for livestock genetics because the specialized traits are often genetically linked to the functions for which they were originally selected by humans. Attempting to cross River and Swamp types can lead to hybrids that inherit traits from both lineages without maximizing the benefit of either specialization. For instance, a hybrid might acquire the massive horn structure characteristic of the Swamp buffalo while simultaneously exhibiting the lower milk production capacity associated with the River buffalo line, thus demonstrating a dilution of the fixed, specialized characteristics.