There are a lot posts that come across here talking about breeding Brahman crosses to each other so I would like to share my experiences. I'm as big of a fan as any one of Brahman and Brahman crosses. We operate from around roughly and hour south of Houston to an hour off the Mexico border, a long the gulf coast, right through the Brahman belt.
I have gotten away from any composite bulls. Cows are either 100% Brahman, F1s, or 1/4 bloods being retained (for the most part). We do have some commercial cows that are not exactly that cross but will fall in to that range. Bulls are 100% Brahman, Hereford, and BA.
You can look through my posts and see the tiger stripe bull, 3/4 blood cows, etc.
I've done a decent amount of mixing from composites like Brangus, Braford, Beefmaster, and even putting a Brahman bull over commercial cows for 5/8-7/8 cows.
Imo, it throws too many variables in to your breeding. I found it very hard to achieve breeding goals like that. Even now, I did a couple day excursion looking at composites and every time I walked up to them I saw a trait or two that I am trying to breed out or don't want to go back to. When I did find a good one, it was way higher than what I could purchase a quality Hereford or Angus for. It made no sense.
99% of people do not need more than 50% ear. An F1 Braford is an amazing animal. It is truly a phenomenon from performance, to reproduction, parasites, temperament, etc.
We did make some great females with the Brangus or Braford but as a percentage of the herd it was low. We were bringing the unwanted bag, feet, skin, etc back in along with just an inconsistent look. Two calves with very close genetics would be on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as being clean vs navel and ear. That much variation that you can not control really kills production efficiency for both replacement and and terminal calves.
If I take a Braman cow, that may not be perfect, and breed her to a good hereford bull that F1 is pretty solid. If it's not, I know exactly when to go to stop the problem. When you do it again, let's say to a BA bull, and get a 1/4 baldie the odds are even less. Rarely do I see many issues at all in them. Then taking those offspring terminal... it has been cut again. A large group could/ should be running 1/4 ear cattle, IMO.
The main thing is in that chain I can pretty consistently control the change. We are producing more, quality replacements to choose from and our avg prices for terminal calves are up. In this area those F1s to BA bulls or 1/4s to BA bulls will ring the bell or be a nickle off. You can hit the peak end and not give up durability or longevity with those calves. In my experience, doing that with Brangus, Braford, Beefmaster, etc will be very tough. You will have to have the best of the best in those breeds to achieve that and it will require more than one pretty penny.
Every one has different goals for their operation. If you just want to breed what you like to see great, this doesn't apply. If you have breeding goals to sell replacements or at the auction barn consider it. Crossing those composites will hurt more than they will help, IMO.
I have gotten away from any composite bulls. Cows are either 100% Brahman, F1s, or 1/4 bloods being retained (for the most part). We do have some commercial cows that are not exactly that cross but will fall in to that range. Bulls are 100% Brahman, Hereford, and BA.
You can look through my posts and see the tiger stripe bull, 3/4 blood cows, etc.
I've done a decent amount of mixing from composites like Brangus, Braford, Beefmaster, and even putting a Brahman bull over commercial cows for 5/8-7/8 cows.
Imo, it throws too many variables in to your breeding. I found it very hard to achieve breeding goals like that. Even now, I did a couple day excursion looking at composites and every time I walked up to them I saw a trait or two that I am trying to breed out or don't want to go back to. When I did find a good one, it was way higher than what I could purchase a quality Hereford or Angus for. It made no sense.
99% of people do not need more than 50% ear. An F1 Braford is an amazing animal. It is truly a phenomenon from performance, to reproduction, parasites, temperament, etc.
We did make some great females with the Brangus or Braford but as a percentage of the herd it was low. We were bringing the unwanted bag, feet, skin, etc back in along with just an inconsistent look. Two calves with very close genetics would be on opposite ends of the spectrum as far as being clean vs navel and ear. That much variation that you can not control really kills production efficiency for both replacement and and terminal calves.
If I take a Braman cow, that may not be perfect, and breed her to a good hereford bull that F1 is pretty solid. If it's not, I know exactly when to go to stop the problem. When you do it again, let's say to a BA bull, and get a 1/4 baldie the odds are even less. Rarely do I see many issues at all in them. Then taking those offspring terminal... it has been cut again. A large group could/ should be running 1/4 ear cattle, IMO.
The main thing is in that chain I can pretty consistently control the change. We are producing more, quality replacements to choose from and our avg prices for terminal calves are up. In this area those F1s to BA bulls or 1/4s to BA bulls will ring the bell or be a nickle off. You can hit the peak end and not give up durability or longevity with those calves. In my experience, doing that with Brangus, Braford, Beefmaster, etc will be very tough. You will have to have the best of the best in those breeds to achieve that and it will require more than one pretty penny.
Every one has different goals for their operation. If you just want to breed what you like to see great, this doesn't apply. If you have breeding goals to sell replacements or at the auction barn consider it. Crossing those composites will hurt more than they will help, IMO.