Crossbreeding Considerations
Simplicity, management key to successful program
Story by Lisa Henderson
Reprinted from Cattlemen' s News.
Fewer open cows, less death loss, more growth, more milk and more efficiency. Those are the significant economic advantages crossbreeding can offer your cattle operation.
“A crossbred cow is 25 percent more productive over her lifetime compared with a straight-bred commercial cow,” says University of Missouri animal scientist Jared Decker. “Not only do we see increased growth performance out of crossbred cattle, but we see significant impacts on fertility and reproduction.”
Decker adds bluntly, “All commercial operations should consider using crossbreeding.”
While the popularity of breeds can rise and fall over time, crossbreeding remains an advantageous practice for commercial herds.
Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, and breed complementarity are the primary benefits realized from a properly planned crossbreeding program. Heterosis is the increase in performance or function above w…
Story by Lisa Henderson
Reprinted from Cattlemen' s News.
Fewer open cows, less death loss, more growth, more milk and more efficiency. Those are the significant economic advantages crossbreeding can offer your cattle operation.
“A crossbred cow is 25 percent more productive over her lifetime compared with a straight-bred commercial cow,” says University of Missouri animal scientist Jared Decker. “Not only do we see increased growth performance out of crossbred cattle, but we see significant impacts on fertility and reproduction.”
Decker adds bluntly, “All commercial operations should consider using crossbreeding.”
While the popularity of breeds can rise and fall over time, crossbreeding remains an advantageous practice for commercial herds.
Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, and breed complementarity are the primary benefits realized from a properly planned crossbreeding program. Heterosis is the increase in performance or function above w…