Favourite Hybrid System - What makes your best cows?

[fargus]

Pretty simple question. We got on the Simmental X Red Angus bandwagon a few years ago. They are good cows, I won't knock 'em, but the best commercial cows we have produced are Simmental X Shorthorn. They are real easy to feed, travel well, calve easy and have lots of staying power. Doesn't hurt that when we breed 'em Charolais they give big-butted calves with lots of hair that can gain on the poorest pasture we can find for 'em.

What works for everyone else and why?

[dun]

We haven;t found any one cross that is superior to any other. Our 2nd best and worst cows are Polled Hereford blk Angus F1s. Have a F1 Red Angus Gelbvieh that is at the top and so are her daughters and grandaugthers each with an increasing % of Red Angus.

[Aaron]

In a commercial system, I think it would be hard to beat Hereford x Shorthorn cows bred to Charolais bulls. Compact, docile, hardy cows with great maternal characteristics bred to a breed that takes the colour out of them, adds a little muscle and nets a premium.

[AngusLimoX]

Aww crap, now I gotta sell all these black cows!

Seriously, I gotta learn more about shortys, they just keep coming up.

[blackcowz]

For us, the LimFlex have done well, but the good old Black Baldie F1 cattle have staying power like no other.

[fargus]

Those d**m shorthorn crosses do keep coming up in Ontario. Somedays I wonder if I picked the right breed to base it all on.

[husker1]

Simmy X Angus.....

Our most productive have been simmy X the Red Angus variety....

But any Simmental X Angus cross is potent.

[Australian]

Our best cows are Brahman Hereford, Brahman South Devon and Balck Baldy. An extra dash of Brahman only makes them better.

[Northern Rancher]

I'm pretty much sold on the Hereford/Angus baldie-they do alot of things well.

[cfpinz]

My all-around favorites at the present are the baldies bred to a gelbvieh bull.

[Santas and Duhram Reds]

Santa with a british breed. Prefer avoiding the white face but that is just for cosmetic reasons.

[redcowsrule33]

SimxRed Angus or SimxHereford are real workhorses. Angus/RedangusxHereford w/ a Simmi bull get you great calves. Had some Angus/Gelbviehs that were great, too.

[alftn]

There are a big difference of animals in any single breed, I general I like my cows ( reguardless of size) to look Long , yes and height helps...My point is I like F-1 Black angus Hereford cross...but If you use long cows and long bulls you get a longer calf...If you use good cows and good bulls you usually get good calves, it is important to start with quality animals

[Australian]

It is most important to start with a good dam base then work out what suits you with the sires. Some breeds have failed here in Australia because they have been promoted to perform in all climates. This is incorrect. British and Euros are meant for the cooler climes and Tropicals for the warmer climates. I have found that the Tropicals are much more adaptable to the cold than the British are to the hot. Though in the centre of our desert type country, Shorthorns and Poll Herefords are doing very well. I have seen that some Euros adapt ok to the warmer climes ( but not all of them) Northern Australia ( the hotter part of our country) have two Euro breeds that seem to be doing ok ( in a cross breeding situation ) that is the Charolais and Bazadaise, some Blonde d Aquitaine are used as well.

[Santas and Duhram Reds]

I have found that the Tropicals are much more adaptable to the cold than the British are to the hot.