Development of a beef cattle breeding herd with dairy potential
1992
Combs, W. | Lutchman, C.
One thousand Brangus, Simbrah, and local "Creole" heifers were assembled in 1991-1992 for the establishment of a beef cattle breeding programme. Changes in sire breeds have been made and a breeding strategy adopted to both maximize economic beef production and permit exploitation of dairy potential, if desired, by crossing high-performing heat tolerant breeds (Brahman, Sahiwal, Chianina, "Trinidad and Tobago Creole") with late-fattening European dairy/beef breeds (Gelbvieh, Brown Swiss, Holstein, Simmental) of demonstrated high maternal ability as crossbred beef cows. The eight-breed composite is expected to retain heterozygosity and heterosis at a near-maximum 87.5 % of F1 levels which also is expected to achieve lifetime calvings/lactations per cow near F1 levels. Once per day milking allowing calves to suckle twelve hours in a dairy ranching model is proposed as an alternative to twice daily milking with expectations of near 1000 kg of milk and a weaned calf per lactation.
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