Crossbreeding With Local Breeds - Beef and Dairy

126 Beef Breeder MANUAL Most young beef heifers imported from Australia to cold climate countries will be British breeds. These breeds are well adapted to the central Asian climate, produce high eating quality beef, and there is a large international herd from which to select pedigree animals. Imported heifers will most likely form the foundation of purebred herds, but some may become part of a crossbreeding program with local breeds commonly dual-purpose dairy and beef animals.

5.2.2. Crossbreeding

An opportunity exists to introduce a second beef breed into purebred herds and develop structured crossbreeding programs. Cross-breeding ofers signiicant commercial advantages over pure breeding in enterprises where the focus is on producing fast growing slaughter cattle that meet market speciications. These advantages are due to the expression of hybrid vigour; a widely recognised phenomenon that results in productivity beneits in the progeny of animals mated to a breed diferent from their own. In beef cattle, these beneits are typically measured in terms of higher growth rates of the progeny, therefore leading to reduced feeding costs to reach the same slaughter weight. Fertility in crossbred females kept as replacement breeders is also improved by hybrid vigour. A number of breeds would be well suited to cross- breeding with Angus in countries with cold winter climates, and they include Hereford, Limousin, and Simmental. Others may also be suitable in the long term as terminal sires in a three-way cross for example Charolais.

5.2.3. With Local Breeds - Beef and Dairy

In order to improve cash low and rapidly increase the size of the breeding herd, an opportunity lies in mating local dairy or dual purpose dairy and beef cows to imported beef bulls. Local cows may ofer some intangible beneits such as existing adaptation to the local environment. Cows selected for entry into a local beef crossbreeding herd would need to be selected with some reference to body type and conformation, i.e. exhibiting beef characteristics. The female progeny from the local cross- bred cows can undergo further selection with suitable heifers retained for future breeding as half-bred beef cows. If mated to beef bulls, within three generations the resultant females would be 88 beef breed, and well established as an adapted local beef hybrid. Although ongoing advantages can be achieved by implementing a planned crossbreeding program, the potential disadvantages also need careful consideration: • Additional herd management and associated costs with crossbreeding • Any discounts that might be experienced when selling crossbred animals particularly when sold through the livestock exchange saleyard system • Time and cost required to bring the herd into genetic equilibrium if developing a stabilised crossbreed is the breeding objective. Crossbreeding is best suited to large herds producing big lines of cattle for sale. 127 Cold Winter Climates 5.3. Bulls 5.3.1. Reproductive System of the Bull