Crossbreeding systems in summary

The table below provides a summary of beef cattle crossbreeding system details and considerations. Implementing a well-designed crossbreeding system is an important management practice for improving the profitability of commercial cattle operations. Such a system should be used to take advantage of breed complementarity and heterosis while also fitting the herd size and resources of the operation.

Breeding Program	Program Details	Considerations	Practical minimum size of cowherd
Two-breed Terminal	1 breeding pasture 1 sire breed Low labour requirement Uniform type progeny	No maternal hybrid vigor Replacements purchased	Any size
Three-breed Terminal	1 breeding pasture 1 sire breed Low labour requirement Uniform type progeny Maximum hybrid vigor achieved	Replacements purchased	Any size
Two-breed Rotation	2 breeding pastures 2 sire breeds Mid-level management Moderate maternal hybrid vigor Moderate individual hybrid vigor Replacement heifers retained	Maternal/growth sire required Additional labour Additional management Female and sire ID crucial	>50 head
Three-breed Rotation	3 breeding pastures 3 sire breeds Mid-level management High maternal hybrid vigor Higher individual hybrid vigor Replacement heifers retained	Maternal/growth sires required Additional labour Additional management Female and sire ID crucial	>75 head
Four-breed Rotation	4 breeding pastures 4 sire breeds High-level management High maternal hybrid vigor High individual hybrid vigor Replacement heifers retained	Maternal/growth sires required Additional management Female and sire ID crucial	>100 head
Rototerminal	3 breeding pastures 2 sire breed (rotation) + 1 sire breed (terminal) High-level management High maternal hybrid vigor High individual hybrid vigor Replacement heifers retained	Maternal sires and terminal sires needed High-level management Female and sire ID crucial	>100 head
Sire Rotation	1 breeding pasture Low-level management Low labour requirement Moderate hybrid vigor Replacement heifers retained	Avoids interbreeding Any	Any size

Advantages of crossbreeding

Heterosis causes better production of the main products, meat, milk, wool, etc.
Vigour of animals is improved
Disease resistance is higher in offspring
Progeny develop faster and have a bigger build
Better feed consumption rate relates to easier and greater weight gain
Resistance and adaptability to climate changes are better
Crossbreeding is a basic tool in the development of new breeds

Disadvantages of crossbreeding

Heterozygosity increases and homozygosity decreases resulting in offspring that are not pure for breeding
Crossbreds are not suitable for further breeding as the progeny of cross crossbreds will be weaker
Effective crossbreeding requires expert knowledge and record keeping.

Practical examples of animal crossings

Afrikaner X Shorthorn

Three-breed Terminal system

Afrikaner cow

Shorthorn characteristics

Produces excellent meat quality with a big bone system
Meat: bone ration is relatively high with a high carcass mass
Not well adapted to harsh conditions
Disease resistance is low
Early breeder with a shorter generation interval
Fast growing calves that is early market ready

Afrikaner characteristics

The Afrikaner produces good eat quality, whilst having a fine or light bone system
The meat: bone ration is low, relation to a low carcass mass
Not well adapted to harsh conditions
The Afrikaner is a hardy animal with good disease resistance
Adapted to the African harsh and dry weather conditions
Thick skin with big blood supply
A late breeder with a long generation interval
Calves grow slowly to maturity

Afrikaner X Shorthorn

Crosses produces good quality meat
Meat: bone ratio id high with a hihg carcass mass
The calves are hardy with good disease resistance
Animals thrives under high tempratures
Calves grow fast and is early marketable

Production characteristics of selected beef breeds in Southern Africa

In southern Africa, there are 12 recognised indigenous breeds of cattle, as well as several related or derived breeds, all classified as Sanga types. The majority of the European beef, dual-purpose and dairy breeds, in addition to the Zebu breeds, are also well represented and have been evaluated in several studies on pure and cross-breeding systems.

– Production characteristics of selected beef breeds in Southern Africa

Breed	Number	ADG	FCE	ADA	400 days weight
Simmentaller	263	1749	7.0	1314	575
Hereford	56	1706	6.5	1247	535
SA Angus	103	1691	6.8	1237	530
South Devon	35	1670	6.8	1273	549
Pinzgauer	53	1662	7.3	1249	539
Santa Gertrudis	126	1620	6.9	1232	531
Sussex	77	1518	6.9	1169	505
Bonsmara	518	1514	7.1	1125	486
Beefmaster	29	1493	7.4	1199	513
Drakensberger	61	1410	7.5	1078	469
Brahman	101	1210	7.1	1025	442
Afriksner	41	1157	7.1	901	392
Nguni	50	1108	7.3	783	341

Fertility and comparative income from Sanga, Afrikaner, Hereford, Simmentaler and santa

Gertudis cattle on extensive range conditions without supplementation

Breed	Ave Calving % over 6 years	Ave Calving Interval (days)	Net Income (AFR=100)
Afrikaner	74	460	100
Hereford	78	462	97
Sanga	92	372	141
Santa Gertrudis	78	420	103
Simmentaller	78	416	88

Species crossing

Specie crossing is the breeding of different species. The progeny is infertile and there is very little use in this breeding practice other than that of improving the strength of a donkey as a draught animal, by crossing it with a horse.

Examples: