Don't Blame the Bull!
Like all of us especially in light of today’s economy, cattle producers are looking at ways they can improve their bottom line, but interestingly according to industry experts they often overlook cross breeding. I’m Susan Allen I’ll be back with today’s OpenRange. Change is hard, I had a the idea for a program featuring western issues for years but was hesitant to rock the boat same holds true for cattle producers, they get comfortable producing one breed of cattle, like me they might need to shake things up. Cattle Industry experts across the country are calling for more cross breeding. David Daley Associate dean from Cal State Chico College of Ag who also runs his own herd of several hundred commercial cows believes producers have forgotten or even worse , ignored heterosis at the expense of their herd. Heterosis is the superiority of the crossbred animal relative to the averageness of its straight bred parents. Think, pound puppy brains verses purebred pains.) Daley says that because outcrossing to different breeds subtly improves many traits cattle producers often fail to recognize the benefits when they see it. Producers should consider it when they begin to see longetivity , rebreeding and calf survivalibty problems in their straight bred cattle. According to Daley most producers blame the bull or ranch management when it might simply be time for some new blood. That’s no bull, so stop blaming the bull! I’m Susan Allen
