Why Should I Crossbreed?

Bob Weaber (Kansas State University): Producers should consider crossbreeding for a number of reasons. Maybe at the top of the list is improved revenue streams and profitability. Contemporary analysis suggests that the value of a crossbreeding system can be as much as $250 per cow per year. That motivation in terms of economic performance helps us think about what we might capture out of a crossbreeding system. The two important components to consider are heterosis, or the hybrid vigor, or increased performance we get from crossing two or more breeds as well as breed Complementarity. So, combining the core strengths of numerous breeds to produce an animal that excels in a wide range of traits that are economically important in the beef value chain.