How to Choose your Commercial Crosses Based on Carcass Merit
Characterization of breeds based on their biological type
Very high lean, low marbling, low milk, late puberty
Charolais -- very high growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Char x ang
Chianina -- very high growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Chi x ang
Limousin -- moderate growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Lim x ang
This group needs a lot of help-
What would you use besides Angus?
High lean, moderate marbling, high milk, moderate puberty
Simmental -- very high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Simm x angus
Maine Anjou -- very high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Maine x angus
Gelbvieh -- very high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Gelbv x angus
Brown Swiss -- high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Br. Sw x________
Moderate lean, moderate marbling, high milk, early puberty
South Devon -- moderate growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) S. Dev x ____
Tarentaise -- moderate growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Tarent x ______
Pinzgauer -- moderate growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Pinz x _______
What would you cross these cattle breeds with to improve carcass merit?
Moderate lean, low marbling, high milk, very late puberty, heat tolerant
Brahman -- high growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Brah x angus or SH or Simm
Sahiwal -- low growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you don't see any!
What would you cross these cattle with to improve Carcass Merit?
Low lean, high marbling, moderate milk, moderate puberty
Black Angus -- moderate growth (Represents YG 2-4 QG LMH Choice and Prime)
Angus are used in so many crosses to help other breeds fill in the gaps they lack in carcass merit.
The reason Angus needs to be crossed with another breed is too much YG. When an animal is harvested and there is more than a YG 2 carcass, extra time has to be taken to trim off that excess fat—hence the PB/ Comm. Angus gets penalized.
That's why cattle buyers want a feeder that is only ½ angus and preferably 3/8's.
What breed would you choose to cross with an Angus?
Hereford -- moderate growth (Represents YG 1-3 QG LMH Choice and LM Prime)
Seldom does a Hereford feeder, properly fed, grade less than YG2, but with their moderate growth they do need to be crossed with another breed, which promotes Hybrid Vigor.
Which breed would you choose?
Red Poll -- low growth (Represents YG 2-4 QG LMH Choice and L Prime)
Don't see many of these cattle around due to their low growth potentials.
What would you cross this Breed with to improve Growth?
N. Devon -- low growth (Represents YG 2-4 QG LMH Choice and L Prime)
What would you cross this Breed with to improve Growth?
Very high milk, high marbling, early puberty
Holstein—moderate lean, high growth. Steers in the feed yard have diminished due to sexed semen
Jersey -- low lean, low growth Why you see some people feed Jersey crosses for freezer, but steers in the feed yard have diminished due to sexed semen
Someday when you, as a commercial cattleman/woman, are held responsible for quality pounds instead of just quantity pounds, you will want to make some wise decisions. This is day is approaching.
I am interested in:
What you do now?
What breeds you chose and why?
What you would change in your operations having this information before you?
Characterization of breeds based on their biological type
Very high lean, low marbling, low milk, late puberty
Charolais -- very high growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Char x ang
Chianina -- very high growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Chi x ang
Limousin -- moderate growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Lim x ang
This group needs a lot of help-
What would you use besides Angus?
High lean, moderate marbling, high milk, moderate puberty
Simmental -- very high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Simm x angus
Maine Anjou -- very high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Maine x angus
Gelbvieh -- very high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Gelbv x angus
Brown Swiss -- high growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Br. Sw x________
Moderate lean, moderate marbling, high milk, early puberty
South Devon -- moderate growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) S. Dev x ____
Tarentaise -- moderate growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Tarent x ______
Pinzgauer -- moderate growth (represents YG 1 – 2 QG LMH Choice) Pinz x _______
What would you cross these cattle breeds with to improve carcass merit?
Moderate lean, low marbling, high milk, very late puberty, heat tolerant
Brahman -- high growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you see Brah x angus or SH or Simm
Sahiwal -- low growth (represents YG 0 – 1 QG Select) Why you don't see any!
What would you cross these cattle with to improve Carcass Merit?
Low lean, high marbling, moderate milk, moderate puberty
Black Angus -- moderate growth (Represents YG 2-4 QG LMH Choice and Prime)
Angus are used in so many crosses to help other breeds fill in the gaps they lack in carcass merit.
The reason Angus needs to be crossed with another breed is too much YG. When an animal is harvested and there is more than a YG 2 carcass, extra time has to be taken to trim off that excess fat—hence the PB/ Comm. Angus gets penalized.
That's why cattle buyers want a feeder that is only ½ angus and preferably 3/8's.
What breed would you choose to cross with an Angus?
Hereford -- moderate growth (Represents YG 1-3 QG LMH Choice and LM Prime)
Seldom does a Hereford feeder, properly fed, grade less than YG2, but with their moderate growth they do need to be crossed with another breed, which promotes Hybrid Vigor.
Which breed would you choose?
Red Poll -- low growth (Represents YG 2-4 QG LMH Choice and L Prime)
Don't see many of these cattle around due to their low growth potentials.
What would you cross this Breed with to improve Growth?
N. Devon -- low growth (Represents YG 2-4 QG LMH Choice and L Prime)
What would you cross this Breed with to improve Growth?
Very high milk, high marbling, early puberty
Holstein—moderate lean, high growth. Steers in the feed yard have diminished due to sexed semen
Jersey -- low lean, low growth Why you see some people feed Jersey crosses for freezer, but steers in the feed yard have diminished due to sexed semen
Someday when you, as a commercial cattleman/woman, are held responsible for quality pounds instead of just quantity pounds, you will want to make some wise decisions. This is day is approaching.
I am interested in:
What you do now?
What breeds you chose and why?
What you would change in your operations having this information before you?