What is a terminal cross? Ad in paper with Angus semen for $5 a straw, says "to be used on cows, terminal cross only." I have all F1 angus / herefords, and my main objective is to get good heifers from these cows to retain to build my herd, and have been breeding back to angus.
terminal cross
- Thread starter joe
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certherfbeef
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joe":27b6y6z9 said:
Terminal cross is a mateing chosen soley for the feedlot. None of the animals that come from a terminal cross will be retained in your herd.
joe":27b6y6z9 said:
Your main objective is what we call a maternal cross.
joe":1nuoeeh1 said:
There are Angus bulls that will give you a lot of meat and muscle, but may not have the qualities you look for in a heifer replacement. They may not milk, may get too big, not big enough, etc. I'd call this ad and ask why they consider the bull a "terminal" cross. The semen is cheap, but if you're considering AI, your biggest expense will probably the actual breeding. If you're going to that expense, you might be better off to use a proven bull with balanced traits. There are lots of them out there and reasonably priced. Good luck....
DOC HARRIS
Well-known member
Joe - the answers to your questions regarding "Terminal Cross" by Certherfbeef and Frankie are absolutely correct and concise. You couldn't get a better explanation to your particular breeding situation than the two posts by those two ranchers. I would add that very probably if you tried to use the $5.00 a straw results for replacement heifers you would have calving problems which would set back your future breeding plans several years. Feedlot - Fine. Breeding stock - a real no-no! My opinion.joe":alanpuoc said:
Australian Cattleman
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Joe I'd question the $5 a straw semen,and to be used on cows indicates there could be calving problems.
Your black baldy cows offer you plenty of scope to breed them with lots of breeds. We use them to cross South Devon, Hereford and Brahman,seldom do we ever cross them with Angus.
Good Luck with your breeding.
Colin
Your black baldy cows offer you plenty of scope to breed them with lots of breeds. We use them to cross South Devon, Hereford and Brahman,seldom do we ever cross them with Angus.
Good Luck with your breeding.
Colin
Australian Cattleman
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We lose too much weight in that cross back crossing to Angus. Really crossing to either Angus or Hereford doesn't make the best of the great black baldy. Though we seem to get enough weight when we use the Hereford,but not as much as the Brahman and South Devon.
Colin
Colin
I have a small framed crossbred cow that is an excellent milker, her calves grow very fast and mature very early. But her daughters make poor cows, though they are better looking then her. I believe that she puts enough fat on them young, it hurts their milking ability despite any genetic potential. I guess that makes her a terminal dam...
So, if I want to keep heifers for mama cows, I should breed my Angus/Herefords to a simmi, or limmi, but not back to Angus or Hereford? Since I am here, beefmasters, is that a breed or a mixture of breeds? They seem to come in all colors, or else the guy I was talking to didn't have a clue. Thanks for all your advise.
DOC HARRIS
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Beefmasters is a recognized breed, developed by a rancher from Falfurrias, Texas named Tom Lasater, and who later moved to Colorado. They are comprised of crossing Hereford, Shorthorn and Braham Breeds and CULLING RUTHLESSLY by Mr. Lasater, keeping the best replacement heifers, CULLING RUTHLESSLY - generation after generation after generation. I don't know exactly when he began the breed, however I knew him in 1952 and he had been developing the breed for several years at that time. Contact the Beefmaster Association - and they can give you more up-to-date information than I can. Incidentally - I am sure that ALL breeds are a result of a mixture of breeds if you go back in their geneology far enough. Balancers are a cross of Angus and Gelpvieh, if I am not mistaken, and a heck of a good composite crossing it is too! Every breed and combination within each breed has it's own niche in the beef world according to what the Rancher wants and where the ranch is geologically located in the World. Finding that niche is the trick. Lots of fun investigating all the facts at hand, though! And there are LOTS of facts to investigate. Good luck to you.joe":2vztt1v0 said:
certherfbeef
Well-known member
joe":1ub8hzz0 said:
Alot of that depends on your location. Find out what sells best in your area. Baldies sell like hot cakes here. I breed my simmy/herf cows to a herf bull. I'm very pleased with the results. Thick and sound with more than enough milk.
I also have some Maine influenced heifers. They will calve to a simmy and a herf bull in january. I'll let you know if that is a maternal or terminal cross in a year or so. :roll:
Good luck to you.
bigbull338
Well-known member
doc the beefmaster breed was started in 1948 scott
DOC HARRIS
Well-known member
Hey, WORANCH! You know - that sounds familiar to me now. When you pass the age of 39 :roll: all that previously remembered information flys out the window :arrow:WORANCH":2w7jg1x6 said:
greenwillowherefords
Well-known member
joe":3ncd7204 said:
I would definitely encourage you to breed them to a Hereford bull since you are wanting to keep heifers. That should make a fine replacement. I think Australian was looking at it from a terminal standpoint, as there would be more heterosis (hybrid vigor) generated by bringing in something like a Simmental that was not in the bloodlines of the cows, than there would be by introducing more Hereford or Angus genetics to cows that already possess those genetics.
