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The Advantages of Crossbreeding
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A gene complex that will successfully "pair off" in crossbreeding has become an increasingly
important "plus factor" for the Texas Longhorn in today's beef industry. Crossbreeding
is the mating system that is most profitable for commercial beef production under almost
all circumstances. Crossbreeding allows the rancher to take advantage of complimentary
desirable traits from two or more breeds while taking advantage of the extra boost in
production that results from hybrid vigor.
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No one beef breed is best in all conditions. This applies to the Texas Longhorn,
the same as any other breed. Therefore, we are actually talking about crossbreeding
with the Texas Longhorn to combine its desirable nature-fixed traits - such as high
fertility, calving ease, genetic resistance to certain diseases and parasites, hardiness,
high browse utilization, and longevity - with such man
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improved traits as rate of gain and carcass quality which have been highly selected
for in our standard and exotic beef breeds.
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Longhorn Crosses Put $$$$$ In Your Pocket
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The Longhorn breed of cattle has been proving its' advantages in many ways,
and crossbreeding has become one of its most rewarding. Feedlot results have
shown that the Longhorn cross cattle finish slightly slower, but overall, their
feed utilization and lower feed consumption keep the costs comparable to other
breeds. Carcass evaluations prove that the yield and marbling scores of Texas
Longhorns are easily at par or above average when compared with other breeds.
The feedlot results on 105 head of half cross steers weighing 849 pounds at
arrival, showed gains of 3.46 pounds per day. The steers were slaughtered at 1185 pounds
after 98 days on feed. There were no deaths and no treated animals after induction.
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Bulls selected for crossbreeding should be purebred and top quality. Another
very important factor is temperament, and Longhorn breeders have
been very selective in this area. Color selection should also be
considered with quality and temperament as it is evident that
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highly colored cattle have superior
traits in the Longhorn breed. This process has helped prove that Longhorn cattle
have value and purpose beyond the rodeo arena.
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Feedlot Performance of Texas Longhorn Cross Cattle
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Listed below are some of the characteristics of the Texas Longhorn cross cattle
fed in 1986 at Western Feedlots in High River, Alberta:
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1. No animal health problems or sickness.
2. A high fat curve which enables the producer to feed for maximum
efficiency and gainability.
3. High yielding cattle with good cutability in bone to meat ratio.
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162 Steers
- weight in 457 pounds
- weight out 981 pounds after 4% shrink
- 239 days on feed
- Rate of gain 2.19 pounds per day
- Conversion rate 9.42 - 1
- Carcass yield 61.6% hot
- All grade A's
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159 Heifers
- weight in 437 pounds
- weight out 861 pounds after 4% shrink
- 219 days on feed
- Rate of gain 1.94 pounds per day
- Conversion rate 10.13 - 1
- Carcass yield 59.8% hot
- All grade A's
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Calves from first calf heifers.
1/2 Longhorn cattle on feed at Western Feedlots, High River
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2005 Steer-A-Year Report
Texas Longhorns donated to Olds College by Ron Walker
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See Pictures of Ron's Crossbreds
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Tag Number
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1
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3
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3
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5
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27
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CCIA ID
Birth Date
Dam
Sire
Markings
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281 146 001
4-Apr-04
Longhorn
Black Angus
black mix
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275 977 803
2-Apr-04
Longhorn
Longhorn
brown mix
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281 146 003
10-Apr-04
Longhorn
Black Angus
black mix
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281 146 005
14-Apr-04
Longhorn
Black Angus
black mix
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273 950 420
16-Apr-04
Longhorn
Longhorn
black mix
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Ave.
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Arrival Weight
Purch. Price/lb
Purchase Price
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507
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482
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512
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472
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458
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486
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Nov. 1 weight
Dec. 1 weight
Jan. 17 weight
Mar. 4 weight
Apr. 4 weight
Apr. 20 weight
Apr. 28 weight
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507
625
817
962
1006
-
1060
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482
521
643
753
882
-
909
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512
590
751
880
1039
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472
545
674
824
955
951
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458
500
630
725
806
-
846
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486
566
703
829
938
-
938
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Gain - Final
ADG - Final
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553
3.09
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427
2.39
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527
3.4
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479
2.8
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388
2.17
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475
2.77
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Marbling
Backfat mm
Ribeye (rea) in^2
Weight adj. REA in^2 per 100lbs
% Lean Meat Yield
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4.75
7.71
9.73
1.24
58.77
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3.5
2.86
7.19
1.17
61.67
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3.75
5.71
9.65
1.34
60.75
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3.4
6.22
9.01
1.4
59.71
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4
4.45
8.03
1.33
60.73
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Slaughter Date
Dressed Weight
LMY %
Marbling
Yield Class
REA (sq.com)
Back Fat (mm)
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April 28/05
643
56%
AA
Y2
81
6
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April 28/05
520
61%
A
Y1
56
5
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May 19/05
632
59%
AAA
Y1
77
7
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April 20/05
551
58%
A
Y2
-
10
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April 28/05
478
61%
AA
Y1
68
6
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See Pictures of Ron's Crossbreds
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Testimonials from Canadian Cattle Producers Regarding
Their Experiences with Longhorn Stock
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Joan Hughson said:
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"My two sons and I ranch in the Shortgrass region of Southern Alberta. We have
a good commercial herd of Simmental x Hereford x Red Angus cows. We have been
breeding our heifers, from 40 to 150 head, to Longhorn bulls for over 20 years.
In that time we have only assisted two heifers because of calf size.
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By breeding our heifers to Longhorns, the heifer can raise her calf and still
grow and develop into a good cow. Because the birth is easier, her mothering
instinct is encouraged. Longhorn calves are very vigorous and hearty at birth.
if we don't tag them the first day, we have to rope them to catch them.
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We are very pleased with the performance of Longhorn bulls and plan to continue
breeding our heifers Longhorn."
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Joan Hughson
Lazy H Ranches
Foremost, Alberta
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Dewayne Good stated:
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"On our ranch, we calve about 150 two year old heifers each year. Over the last
eight years, Longhorn bulls have been used exclusively to breed these heifers.
This program delivers lively, easy-keeping calves with little or no assistance.
It also enables us to integrate our first-calvers into the mature cow herd with
a minimum of costly feed.
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Our Longhorn cross yearlings provide outstanding performance, virtually equaling
their Hereford mates on pasture or in the feedlot. The Longhorn bulls we've used
have been mostly trouble free and seem to have an amazing longevity while
maintaining a modest, mature weight.
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But Longhorn bulls do more than help to pay the bills. They earn your respect
through their overall efficiency, athletic ability, and intelligence.
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Dewayne Good
M Bar Ranch
Irvine, Alberta
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