Production traits also show a moderate response to crossbreeding. While carcass traits are important, they have less economic value for commercial cattle operations than reproduction or growth rate. Carcass traits can be changed rapidly by selection. Crossbreeding has little effect on carcass merit. Crossbreeding works to improve reproduction and production traits.
Selection works to improve production and carcass traits.
A good total breeding program for a commercial herd will involve both planned crossbreeding and selection of superior breeding animals. Crossbreeding Programs Crossbreeding is the planned mating of different breeds of cattle. Based on research, crossbred cows produce about 5 percent larger calf crops with 5 to 10 percent heavier weaning weights than the average of their purebred parents. When crossbred cows are mated to bulls of a different breed, the total effect of heterosis is an up to 20 percent increase in pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. From a strictly genetic standpoint, an excellent crossbreeding system is easy to describe.