How to Use Composite Breeds of Beef Cattle

Composite breeds of beef cattle have the same uses as purebred cattle. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture defines composites as "a population made up of two or more component breeds, designed to retain heterosis (hybrid vigor) in future generations without crossbreeding, and maintained like a pure breed." Heterosis is defined in the dictionary as "offspring that display greater vigor, size, resistance and other traits." In layman's terms, a composite breed is developed by breeding two different purebreds producing offspring with the best traits of both breeds.

Things You'll Need

  • Production records
  • Adequate pasture
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Instructions

    • 1

      Produce breeding bulls and cows to sell to other cattle raisers. This requires maintenance of production records on your composite breed such as calving weights, calving percentages, calving ease, weaning weights and yearling weights. Good herd production history is expected by breeding cattle buyers.

    • 2

      Market weaned calves through auction sales to people known as preconditioners. The preconditioners buy calves weighing approximately 450 to 500 pounds, put them on grass pastures to add approximately 300 pounds and sell them to feed yards.

    • 3

      Precondition the calves yourself if you have sufficient pasture. By preconditioning, you will produce more income from your calves and hopefully, more profit.