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February 16, 2006 Don’t Ignore Crossbreeding When Buying Bulls Commercial cattle producers shouldn’t ignore the benefits of a well-planned crossbreeding program in their beef herd as they prepare to buy bulls, North Dakota State University Extension Service beef cattle specialist Greg Lardy advises. Producers are in the thick of poring over bull catalogs this time of year. “Crossbreeding offers many advantages to the commercial producer,” Lardy says. “Crossbred cows are typically more productive, have greater fertility and produce heavier calves than purebred cows.” In addition, traits such as longevity and adaptability are enhanced in a well-planned crossbreeding program. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service’s Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., indicate crossbred cows are 25 percent more productive than purebred cows. About two-thirds of that advantage comes from the crossbred cow, while one-third comes from the crossbred calf. Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is the increase in productivity when comparing the crossbred offspring to the purebred parents. Traits such as fertility, adaptability and longevity benefit the greatest from heterosis. Complementary traits in different breeds are another advantage in crossbreeding programs, according to Lardy. Some breeds excel at maternal traits while others excel at growth, productivity and carcass traits. Taking advantage of breed complementarity will allow for a combination of traits in the offspring that are superior to the parents. “Many commercial producers have become disenchanted with crossbreeding over the years,” Lardy says. “However, crossbreeding systems do not need to be terribly complex to accomplish the desired objectives.” A simple two-breed rotational cross or terminal-sire program in which producers purchase crossbred replacement females can simplify the systems and reduce the number of breeding pastures producers need, he says. A two-breed rotational cross will offer 67 percent of the maximum heterosis, while the terminal-sire system will offer 100 percent. ### Source:
Greg Lardy, (701) 231-7660, glardy@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
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