As we approach the bull buying season it is once again time to think about our overall breeding program. It is important to assess what traits are going to have the greatest economic impact in your management system and target a bull to give the production level that you need. If you are in the commercial cattle business and you have been using the same breed of bull for several years then you should probably consider adopting a crossbreeding program.
One of the easiest and best ways to improve whole herd productivity is by having a good crossbreeding system. There are many systems that are available to commercial producers and additional information can be found in fact sheet ASC-168. Depending on how many cows you own and how many breeding pastures that you have will influence which system is best. The important thing is to decide on a system that you are comfortable with and stick with it. In the simplest of these systems income can be increased by approximately 12% and in some of the more complex systems over 20% compared to straight breeding.
If you decide to practice crossbreeding in a more random fashion you should practice this rule of thumb: Do not keep replacements that have greater than 75% of any one breed. Once you have settled on a system it is time to select the breeds that best fit your operation.
It is important to realize that breeds are different in there production levels and breed type should be considered carefully. The following descriptions will assist in determining the breed types that are best for your operation:
British/Smaller Continental – Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn, Red Poll, Tarentaise, Salers, and others. This breed type is generally moderate in birth weight, growth, mature size and milking ability; they have good quality grades at acceptable market weights and reach puberty at acceptable ages. Continental Milk – Braunvieh, Gelbvieh, Simmental and others. This breed type is generally characterized as having heavier birth weights, high growth, large mature size and exceptional milking ability. They produce carcasses that are lean at acceptable harvest weights and they reach puberty at acceptable ages.
Continental Lean – Charolais, Chianina, Limousin, and others. This breed type in general has heavier birth weights, high growth, and large mature size, with low milking ability. These breeds have very lean carcasses and females tend to reach puberty at later ages. Brahman – Beef Master, Brangus, Santa Gertrudis, Simbrah, and others. This breed type is typically moderate to high in birth weight, growth, mature size and milking ability. These breeds are acceptable in leanness and females tend to reach puberty at later ages.
Depending on your management and marketing systems and personal preferences you should choose a breed that has the right characteristics for the traits you are interested in. This does not mean that you can not find a bull to fit your needs in other breeds, but it may be more difficult.
Implementing a crossbreeding system can be a very simple, yet profitable, management practice. Decide on a crossbreeding system then carefully choose the breeds that best fit your production goals. Of course, buying a good bull within your breed of choice is necessary as well. If you would like more information on crossbreeding or sire selection there are several fact sheets, the Kentucky Beef Book and the NBCEC Sire Selection Manual available through your county Extension office.
- Dr Darrh Bullock - UK Beef Specialist