By Clint Peck Senior Editor
Feb 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is the performance advantage crossbreds wield over the average of their straightbred parents. Maximum heterosis is realized in the first cross of distinctly different parents.
Heterosis and complementarity are powerful forces that combine to produce the total advantage of beef cattle crossbreeding. It's an advantage that can amount to as much as 25% greater lifetime productivity — pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed — for crossbred cows as compared to straightbred cows, says Jim Gosey, recently retired University of Nebraska (UN) Extension beef specialist.
********************************************
In other words, a Bos Taurus X Bos Indicus will give MAXIMUM heterosis.
Breed complimentarity is entirely another effect.
Feb 1, 2006 12:00 PM
Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is the performance advantage crossbreds wield over the average of their straightbred parents. Maximum heterosis is realized in the first cross of distinctly different parents.
Heterosis and complementarity are powerful forces that combine to produce the total advantage of beef cattle crossbreeding. It's an advantage that can amount to as much as 25% greater lifetime productivity — pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed — for crossbred cows as compared to straightbred cows, says Jim Gosey, recently retired University of Nebraska (UN) Extension beef specialist.
********************************************
In other words, a Bos Taurus X Bos Indicus will give MAXIMUM heterosis.
Breed complimentarity is entirely another effect.