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PLANNED CROSSBREEDING The Midwest Cattleman · March 30, 2023 · P22
continued from page 21
of heterosis than Bos taurus X Types of Crossbreeding and retain 63% heterosis. In Resulting females would then
Bos taurus cross cattle. When determining what many cases composite breeds move into breeding groups
The other big advantage type of system to use, a pro- have been developed by cross- and be with bulls that are the
of crossbreeding is the abili- ducer needs to look at their ing Bos indicus and Bos tau- opposite breed of their sire.
ty to take advantage of breed herd size, time, management rus cattle to take advantage With this system 67% of het-
complementarity. Different requirements and the target of the adaptation to hot and erosis is retained both direct
breeds of cattle have different market. Some crossbreeding humid climates of the Bos in- and maternal. A 3-breed ro-
strengths that they are known systems produce replacement dicus breeds. One of the larg- tation is also another option
for and a well-planned cross- females to go directly back est challenges to starting a that requires at least 3 breed-
breeding system can take ad- into the herd and others re- new composite is that a large ing pastures and even more
vantage of the strengths of quire the producer to pur- cow herd is needed, and very extensive planning and man-
two or more breeds. chase replacement females. intense management of the agement but allows for ani-
For example, if a producer These are all factors that crossing needs to be practiced. mals to retain 86% heterosis.
is looking to use a terminal need to be analyzed before After the composite is made Rotaterminal Crosses
cross, it would be a good idea selecting the preferred cross- it is a system that is just like Rotaterminal cross breed-
to utilize a breed known to breeding system. managing straight bred cat- ing systems are a combina-
be a good mother for the dam Composite Breeds tle. tion of a terminal cross sys-
and a sire that is known for Composite breeds are cross- Terminal Crosses tem and a rotational cross
growth and carcass. A good bred animals that are man- Terminal cross systems system. They are complex
cross in this case could be a aged like purebreds. Once utilize one breed of bull and and require a large amount of
Beefmaster dam and a Cha- the composite is established cows of another breed or cross management to use correctly.
rolais sire, taking advantage and managed like a breed it bred cows. All of the result- They do take advantage of the
of the maternal ability of the is very easy to use. Compos- ing calves are sold to be fed maternal heterosis generated
Beefmaster and the growth ite breeds can retain large out for beef. This is a system in the rotational cross system
and carcass from the Charo- amounts of heterosis depend- that can work for any size and maximize the heterosis
lais. When looking at breed ing on the final composition of producer and is very simple to in the calves. In this type of
complementarity it is also the breed. In the case of many manage in terms of breeding system heifers and younger
important to use breeds that 2-breed composites that are decisions. The advantages of cows are kept in the rotation-
work in the production envi- widely used in the United the terminal system are that al cross breeding system and
ronment. States 47% of the heterosis the producer has the ability to mature cows are moved into
is retained, while Beefmas- have maximum heterosis in a terminal system. By using
ters are a 3-breed composite the calves, and if the producer older cows in the terminal
uses a crossbred female, they part of the system there is less
INSECT-A-SOCK... can have maximum heterosis likelihood of the cows experi-
in the dams as well, and the encing calving difficulty. This
REDUCE FLIES, LICE, TICKS, MOSQUITOES producer can take advantage system is one that seems to
USA PATENT #8,353,260 of breed complementarity. The be very ideal on paper and if
largest disadvantage to a ter- the right number of cows and
minal cross system is that the breeding groups is available
producer must purchase re- is very ideal, however it is the
placement females to go back most complex of the breeding
into production, since all the systems that have been men-
calves are sold. tioned.

Rotational Cross Crossbreeding is a great
Rotational cross breeding tool that is available to cattle
systems are very methodical producers and provides great
benefits when it is used as a
systems that require a decent
amount of planning and planned system. The first ben-
a large herd of cows in order efit is heterosis and its effect
to successfully accomplish. on weight gain in calves as
well as the maternal heterosis
The simplest of the rotational
cross is the 2-breed rotation which plays a big role in cow
productivity. The second ben-
which is essentially a series
• 2” diameter sock attaches to outside of flap of alternating back crosses. In efit is breed complementarity
• With EPA approved insecticide, recharge every 7 to 10 days during fly season which is when the strengths
• Durable and effective, allows for self-treatment a 2-breed rotation the propor- of 2 or mor breeds are used in
tions of the breeds stabilize
To Find a Dealer, contact.... to 2/3 of one breed and 1/3 of a crossbreeding system. Beef-
master cattle fit very well into
Zeitlow Distributing SoMo Agri Supply the other breed. For a 2-breed many crossbreeding systems
SoMo Agri
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McPherson, KS 800-364-1605 Springfield, MO rotation there needs to be at
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Supply
Boonville, MO 800-530-5158 800-725-1880 least 2 breeding groups, since since they are a composite
Boonville, MO 800-530-5158
Springfield, MO
800-725-1880
Central Missouri Feed & Supply breed and already retain some
6775 W. Bruce Ln., Harrisburg, MO 65256 one set of females will be 2/3
573-881-1798
OR SEE AN MFA DEALER Breed A and 1/3 Breed B, and heterosis. Using Beefmasters
threebarl@hotmail.com in a planned crossbreeding
OR SEE AN MFA DEALER the other set of females will system is a great way to in-
be 2/3 Breed B and 1/3 Breed
RETROFITS MOST COMPETING A. In the first set of females crease weaning weights and
MINERAL FEEDERS. a bull of Breed B would be increase productivity of cows,
Available only with Pride of the Farm ® used and in the second set a ultimately leading to more
WWW.PRIDEOFTHEFARM.COM 800-553-1791 bull of Breed A would be used. profit for the producer.