HETEROSIS PAYS
Economic and production benefits associated with heterosis are documented by decades of industrywide research in commercial crossbreeding systems.
DIRECT HETEROSIS Increased performance of the crossbred calf relative to the average of
the straightbred parental breeds. + 1.9% Survival to weaning + 3.9% Weaning weight + 2.6% Post weaning gain
+ 3.8% Yearling weight + 2.2% Feed conversion
MATERNAL HETEROSIS
Increased performance of the crossbred cow relative to the average of straightbred females of the parental breeds.
+ 3.7% Calving rate + 3.8% Weaning weight + 38.0% Longevity + 17.0% Number of calves + 25.3% Cumulative weaning weight
Primary crossbreeding advantages are improvement of lowly heritable traits, such as those associated with reproduction, which are difficult to impact through direct selection pressure. Small, net-positive effects in multiple traits affecting commercial cow-calf profitability — pregnancy rate, calf livability, calf health, etc. — yield significant returns that are difficult to measure. Crossbreeding value is most visible in the increased number of calves (lifetime), cow longevity and cumulative weaning weight (lifetime). Hereford Heterosis Pays More Hereford genetics offer more crossbreeding power because they are the least related to other Bos Taurus breeds, as documented by the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) 2000 Bull Project. Plus, Hereford’s unique, inherent genetic advantages compared to other breeds offer added breed complementarity, especially when crossed with Angus. Hereford advantages include: docility, fertility, feed efficiency in the pasture and feedlot, longevity, and production efficiency. Hereford-sired black baldy female advantages: • 7% higher pregnancy rate • More calves weaned per cow exposed
• $51 more per cow per year in net present value (2009 calculation) • 3.5% more average rate of return on assets • 2 pounds less pasture forage per day while maintaining more body condition 1 Black baldy cows require 1 acre less of moderate-quality forage per year compared to straightbred black Angus peers, according to Oklahoma State University research. 1 Hereford-sired black baldy steer advantages: • Heavier weaning weights • Increased feed efficiency • Lower cost of gain • Lower feedlot breakeven • $28 per head less feed cost across finishing period Based on feed efficiency alone — breed differences documented by the USMARC — Hereford has a $51 per head advantage over the finishing period, when compared to Angus. 2 Hereford’s economic advantage increases as feed costs rise.
1 On average, Oklahoma State University researchers measured about 2 pounds per day less moderate-quality forage (Oklahoma pasture) intake in the black baldy cows. On an annual basis the black baldy cows would be expected to consume about 725 pounds less forage. 2 Calculation based on breed differences for feed efficiency documented by the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, using current feed costs (Oct. 2022).
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