Despite the growth in the production and productivity rates of dairy farming in Brazil, the globalization of the economy, the fluctuations in domestic and foreign food prices, the changing feeding habits of the population, with the growing interest in functional foods as well as foods from agroecological or organic production systems, coupled with the strong demand for genetically improved and adapted animals, are relevant factors that have challenged research and development agencies in proposing new projects for breeding dairy cattle in tropical regions aiming to identify new genotypes of superior genetics in traits of economic importance, such as milk yield, composition and quality. Embrapa Dairy Cattle, in partnership with Breeders' Associations, State Agricultural Research Corporations, Universities and Semen Processing Centers has been successfully conducting outlined breeding programs for Zebu and Girolando dairy cattle. This project included research actions aimed at continuing and introducing technological innovations in the breeding programs of dairy Zebu breeds. The National Dairy Gir Breeding Program (PNMGL), which started in 1985, made it possible to publish the result of the evaluation of 244 breeders for 25 traits, of which 60% were positive for milk production. In addition, there are 164 bulls under evaluation and new animals are included each year for evaluation. The traits evaluated in the project are milk production and composition, somatic cell count and total bacterial milk count analysis, animal conformation characteristics, management measures and temperament. Aiming at expanding the biological material bank for use in molecular genetics and genomic selection, blood and semen samples were collected and their DNA extracted, and those materials are being kept under conservation in an appropriate environment. The average kinship coefficient of each bull with the evaluated population was also published annually with the results of the genetic evaluations of the bulls, serving as a basis for the farmers in the mating programs to be carried out, aiming to avoid inbreeding problems. The collected data allowed the accomplishment of technical and scientific studies about the performance of the breed, making possible to propose improvements in the selection processes, contributing greatly to the breed improvement. One of the project actions included the study of lactation persistence using data from 57,167 lactations of dairy Gir herds and results from the genetic evaluation, assessing random regression models for milk production on control day using Legendre polynomials or Spline linear functions. The results achieved in this project have generated very positive impacts on the average production of productive and reproductive traits and on the sale of semen, especially sexed semen to females, embryos and animals of superior genetics, both domestically and abroad. As from 1994, the work included the implementation of the National Breeding Program for Dairy Guzerat, which included the selection scheme through a multiple ovulation and embryo transfer core unit (MOET), and also the monitoring of the main traits of economic importance for the breed. In this phase of the project, 264 breeders or families from the MOET core unit, 54 from the progeny test (of which 42 were positive for milk), 55 using information from the National Zootechnical Archive (of which 33 were positive for milk), and 155 families from the Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer core unit (of which 142 were positive for milk) were evaluated for eight traits, four referring to molecular markers. In the same project, a study was performed with Guzerá females, evaluated by the methods of subjective scores (TS) and reactivity in mobile containment environment (TR). The temperament of Guzerat females was variable and the herd factor was the most important one associated with their reactive behavior. In farms that adopt positive management practices, females were more docile, demonstrating that Guzerat animals respond well to the routines of this type of management. Non-lactating females were more reactive, as they were not routinely managed. In the contrary, they tended to show lower reactivity averages as age advanced. It was found, above all, that the rearing or management adopted in the production system was a fundamental factor in reducing the reactivity of Guzerat females. Therefore, farms raising animals of this breed should adopt a management procedure that favors good adaptation to avoid problems of low production or temperament problems as caused by improper animal husbandry practice. Using microsatellite genotyping it was possible to characterize groups or strains in the Dairy Gir and Guzerá breeds. In all, 16 molecular markers were selected that were robust to perform molecular analyzes in these breeds, mainly in the verification of paternity and intra and inter populational genetic diversity, and it was possible to objectively characterize the main lineages that make up the history of Dairy Gir in the country. The same panel was successfully used, with some adjustments, for correcting genealogy and identifying paternity in the Red Sindhi breed. Through work in genomic analysis four strains of Dairy Gir animals were very well characterized. The results showed that selection programs and the research work in ongoing projects have prioritized the genetic evaluation of bovine breeders with representatives of different breeds, in order to maintain the existing genetic diversity, as well as allow the consideration of alternative breeds, aiming to increase genetic variability and reduce inbreeding among the most inbreeding breeds. It was demonstrated in the project that the production of animals through in vitro fertilization, in multiple ovulation core units or even in individual herds, in the two breeds (Dairy Gir and Guzerat), is a highly viable technology as a process of multiplying superior genotypes in Zebu breeds. The process was proven through research work carried out by EPAMIG (Agricultural Research Corporation of Minas Gerais), in the Getúlio Vargas Experimental Field, which renewed the Dairy Gir herd in a short period, and by the MOET core unit for selection in the Guzerat breed. The Program for Red Sindhi Breed Genetic Improvement, one more action foreseen in the project, was started. Six breeders were selected to be included in genetic evaluation. The bulls had semen collected (500 doses per bull) and packaged in straws containing the codes of each bull. Semen distribution began during the project's term and will continue to be carried out by ABCSindi (Brazilian Association of Red Sindhi Breeders), with the responsibility of also collecting phenotypic data and sending information to the program coordination at Embrapa Dairy Cattle, that will be responsible for the organization of the database and conducting genetic evaluations and publication of results. It was observed that animals managed in optimal conditions (supplementation and / or under confinement) with or without the use of galactogenic substances show higher lactation persistence in relation to the group of animals managed under more restricted conditions. In addition, better managed animals showed a lactation curve pattern that peaked, with mild reduction throughout the lactation period. On the other hand, grazing animals (or poorer management ones) have a practically linear lactation curve pattern with constant reduction throughout the lactation period. A random regression model with cubic Legendre polynomials for the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects was more suitable for genetic evaluation of Dairy Gir animals, with similar results obtained for the Guzerat breed. Therefore, this should be the procedure to be adopted in genetic evaluations of Zebu animals. The technical advances obtained from this work, which has provided great gains for the sector, justify the proposal of new projects with similar objectives and goals and innovations, considering the inclusion of genomic selection, the most current technology, with greater involvement of partner institutions, particularly from the private sector, which may help guide new actions. Due to the relevance of genetic improvement for the development of the national dairy livestock, it is suggested to expand the programs in the Zebu and Girolando breeds in Brazil, meeting the market demand and making Brazil, increasingly, a world reference in genetic selection in these breeds, involving various production systems. The project entitled “Breeding strategies for the Dairy Gir, Guzerat, Red Sindhi and Girolando breeds in sustainable milk production systems” is the continuation of this work at Embrapa Dairy Cattle.