CrossbreedingL9

• What are some reasons to use crossbreeding?


  Introduce a new breed, take advantage of hybrid vigor, utilize the good qualities of two or more breeds, and improve market suitability by combining the above
• Breed Choice: Identify the performance characteristics for breeding and finishing that best suit your farm

  The choice of breed (cross or line) will likely involve compromises. Compromises can be minimized by using sires with different attributes from the cow.
• What does the ideal beef breeding cow have?

  Minimal maintenance requirements but carries enough BC to withstand feed shortages, produces plenty of milk to rear a good calf, gets pregnant on time every time, displays good maternal behavior
• What breeds are suitable as breeding cows?

  All British breeds, any dairy by beef cross
• What is the benefit of growing faster-growing steers in terms of feed consumption?

  Consume less feed than slow-growing steers
• Why is winter feed more valuable?


  More valuable than feed at other times of the year
• How can feed costs for finishing be reduced?

  By growing steers as fast as possible when feed is available, over a minimum number of winters.
• What is the importance of meat quality traits?

  When we can define and measure them and get paid for them
• Which breeds grow the fastest and produce the most cuts of lean beef?

  Continental breeds
• Which breeds generally have higher levels of marbling fat, resulting in juicy tender beef?

  British breeds
• Which breeds produce large quantities of lean beef?

  Double-muscled breeds (Belgian Blue and Piedmontese)
• What is the characteristic of the fat in Jersey breed?

  Yellowish fat, which is not a problem dietary-wise but may affect appearance
• What is Hybrid Vigor?


  A trait (heritability) dependent that occurs when two genetically distinct breeds are crossed which results in the offspring having better traits than either of the parents.
• Hybrid Vigor is breed dependent, the more genetically distinct the breeds are, the greater the heterosis
• Hybrid Vigor can decline when interbreeding but it depends on the breeds and the type of crossbreeding system, e.g. a back-cross will lose 1/2 of the Hybrid Vigor
• What is Individual Heterosis?

  Expressed by a crossbred individual and is the advantage of the animal itself being a crossbred
• What is Maternal Heterosis?

  The effect on a calf of having a crossbred dam which results in more milk, better mothering, and the combination of the best traits of different breeds
• What is the best argument for crossbreeding in beef cattle?

  To utilize the strengths of different breeds. For example, use a terminal sire or use a high growth rate terminal breed of bull on moderately sized cows with good milk production and high reproductive rate
• What are the types of Breeding Systems?

  Self-replacing, Terminal, and Composite
• Self-replacing system:


  Breed own female replacements and sires are purchased
• Terminal system:


  Where all progeny are slaughtered and female replacements and sires are purchased
• Composite system:


  Stabilized crossbred
• Terminal 3-way cross


  Mating cows to terminal sires of a third breed for maximum heterosis
• What is the main disadvantage of the Terminal 3-way cross strategy?

  Need to organize a reliable source of replacements
• Can the dairy industry be used as a source of replacements for the Terminal 3-way cross strategy?

  Yes, the dairy industry can be used as a source of replacements.
• Can you provide an example of the Terminal 3-way cross strategy?

  A Hereford x Friesian cow mated to a terminal sire such as Simmental
• What is the three-breed specific cross strategy?


  It involves using three breeds, such as Angus, Hereford, and Simmental, in specific mating ratios.
• What is the advantage of the Rotational crosses strategy?

  Retains 67% of maximum heterosis attained from always using a first cross cow in a two-breed system and 87% of maximum heterosis attained from always using a first cross cow in a three-breed cross
• What is a Composite breed?

  Where 2,3,4, and up to 9 breeds have been interbred to form a new breed
• Can you provide an example of a Composite breed?

  Shaver Beefblend (9 breeds but not Angus, Hereford, Friesian, or Simmental), Murray Grey (Angus and Shorthorn)
• What is a Stabilizer?

  A composite breed based on 25% of Angus, Simmental, Hereford, and Gelbvieh
• What does the Stabilizer retain as a four breed composite?

  75% of the F1 hybrid cross
• What are some disadvantages of crossbreeding?

  Extra management, more precise recording of breeds and breed groups, incorrect mating policies, and dilution of advantages of high performing purebreds
• What should producers do to maximize the benefits of crossbreeding?

  Identify relevant performance characteristics, recognize breed differences, maximize gains from utilizing dam and sire crossbred lines, and implement necessary management skills
• Why is it important to recognize breed differences in crossbreeding?

  Different breeds have varying performance levels, and selecting the right breeds can optimize outcomes in a crossbreeding system
• What is the advantage of high-milk cows?

  They can wean heavier calves at the expense of cow body condition.
• What is the disadvantage of high-milk cows?

  They may have lower body condition due to putting more energy into milk production
• How do the progeny of high-milk cows perform?

  As well as finishing animals
• What's individual heterosis?

  Advantages of a crossbred animal itself
• What's maternal heterosis?

  Advantages of mom being cross bred