1. Joe C. Paschal Livestock Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension
Benefits of Composite Breeding AGA Southern Balancer Informational Meeting
Joe C. Paschal
Livestock Specialist
Texas AgriLife Extension

2. Definition of Composite
Composites are formed by crossing two or more existing breeds in specific percentages then inter se mating those crosses to maintain those percentages.
The purpose is to maintain a high level of heterosis without future crossing.

3. Benefits of Composites
A composite allows breeders to use the breeds in specific percentages to optimize environmental and marketing flexibility and still benefit from heterosis and breed effects
Breeds should be complimentary in all traits, extremes should cancel out (size, maturity, milk, growth, etc)

4. Why Use Composites?
To maintain high levels of heterosis and productivity
Using Bos indicus, percent increase in weaning weight per cow exposed could range:
2 Breed composite 18-24%
4 Breed composite %
To combine beneficial breed effects

5. Heat Tolerant Breeds Bos indicus Non Bos indicus (Bos taurus)
Brahman
Boran
Gyr (Gir)
Nelore
Indu Brazil
Bos indicus influence
Beefmaster
Braford
Brangus
Red Brangus
Santa Gertrudis
Santa Cruz
Simbrah
Southern Balancer
Non Bos indicus (Bos taurus)
Senepol
Tuli
Still more
American Breed
Charbray
Barzona
Brahmousin
Braler
Braunbray
Gelbray

6. Advantages and Disadvantages of Bos indicus Cattle
Longevity (teeth)
Hot climate adaptability
Internal/external parasite tolerance
Resistance to some disease
Maternal ability
Ability to digest coarse forages
Mineral conservation
Highest hybrid vigor (heterosis) in crosses with non Bos indicus
Maternal calving ease
Disadvantages
Muscling
Marbling
Gain
Conversion
Temperament
Tenderness

7. Minimum Temperature Zones of the US

8. Bos indicus cattle are well known for their high level of hybrid vigor in crosses with non-Bos indicus breeds
Hybrid vigor is caused by the interaction effects of individual genes
Highest for traits with low breeding value (early in life) and lowest for those with high breeding value (late in life)
Hybrid vigor in Bos indicus X Bos indicus is probably lowered by 50% or more than Bos indicus X non-Bos indicus crosses

9. Fertility and Productivity in Bos indicus F1 Cows (Riley et al. 2001a)
Breed of Cow
Pregnancy Rate (%)
Calf Crop (%)
Calf Survival
Weaning %
Angus
87.4
86.7
96.3
83.3
G. Brahman
96.4
95.6
92.3
88.4
Gir
96.0
94.6
96.8
91.5
Indu Brazil
91.0
92.8
87.1
81.0
Nelore
97.0
97.1
98.9
96.1
R. Brahman
93.8
92.7
93.0
86.0

10. Terminal Cross Calves Produced by Bos indicus F1 Cows (Riley et al
Terminal Cross Calves Produced by Bos indicus F1 Cows (Riley et al. 2001a)
Breed of Cow
Calving Difficulty
Birth Wt. (kg)
Weaning Wt. (kg)
Angus
50.3a
39a
227
G. Brahman
19.7ab
37abc
257
Gir
14.8b
35c
256
Indu Brazil
12.4b
Nelore
4.8b
37bc
R. Brahman
8.4b
37ab
261
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

11. Lifetime Production and Fertility of Bos indicus F1 Cows (Riley et al
Lifetime Production and Fertility of Bos indicus F1 Cows (Riley et al. 2001a)
Sire Breed
of Cow
P.P. %
C.C. %
C.S.
C.W. %
Angus
87.4a
86.7a
96.3b
83.3a
G. Brahman
96.4b
95.6b
92.3ab
88.4ab
Gir
96.0b
94.6ab
96.8b
91.5ab
Indu Brazil
91.0ab
92.8ab
87.1a
81.0a
Nelore
97.0b
97.1c
98.9b
96.1b
R. Brahman
93.8ab
92.7ab
93.0ab
86.0a
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

12. and humid climates but what about their Brahman cross carcasses?
And So What?
We know they make
good cows in hot and humid climates and the hybrid vigor is important in some not so hot
and humid climates but what about their Brahman cross carcasses?

13. Determining Value

15. Medicine, Feed and Total Cost of Gain
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

16. Feeding and Marketing Margins and Net Return
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

17. On Feed and Final Weight, ADG and DOF by Percent Bos indicus in the Ranch to Rail Program (Paschal et al. 2003a)
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

18. Carcass Weight, Dressing Percent, Fat Thickness, Ribeye Area, REA/cwt, and USDA Yield Grade by Percent Bos indicus in the Ranch to Rail South Program (Paschal et al. 2003b)
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

19. USDA Marbling Scores and Quality Grades Percent Bos indicus in the Ranch to Rail South Program (Paschal et al, 2003b)
Columns with different superscripts differ P<.05.

20. Warner Bratzler Shear Force of Ranch to Rail South Steers by Percent Bos indicus (Paschal et al 2003b)
*Shear force based on a limited number of purebred or straightbred steers.

21. Percentage of Ranch to Rail South Steers Exceeding Tenderness of 8 Pounds by Percent Bos indicus (Paschal et al 2003b)
*Shear force based on a limited number of purebred or straightbred steers.

22. Feedyard Performance Trait Mean SD Slaughter age 546 d 51 d ADG
3.28 lb/d
.51 lb
Slaughter weight
1225 lb
123 lb

23. Carcass Yield Trait Mean SD Hot carcass weight 740 lb 81lb
Fat thickness
.34 in
.17 in
REA
13.8 sq in
1.4 sq in
USDA YG
2.3 .7

24. Carcass Quality
Trait
Mean SD
Marbling score
SL 90 62
USDA QG
SE 77 44

25. Tenderness Trait Mean SD Calpastatin 4.51 u/g 1.22 u/g 7 d WBSF
10.1 lb
2.7 lb
14 d WBSF
8.5 lb
1.9 lb

28. SGBI National Steer Feedout Feedyard Performance
Trait
Avg.
Min.
Max.
In weight (lb)
621
326
950
Out weight (lb)
1291
799
1862
Medicine cost ($/hd)
10.11
88.98
DOF
201
179
230
ADG (lb/d)
3.46
.83
5.16
Total COG ($/cwt)
56.14
26.43
72.39
Net return ($/hd)
133.93
920.67

30. SGBI National Steer Feedout Program Carcass Merit
Trait
Avg.
Min.
Max.
Carcass weight (lb)
807
477
1145
Fat thickness (in)
.51
.05
1.3
Ribeye area (in2)
13.0
8.3
18.1
REA/CWT (in2)
1.6
1.1
2.4
USDA Yield grade
3.2 1 4
USDA Marbling score
Slight 90
P. Devoid
Sl.Ab.
USDA Quality grade
Select +
Standard +
Prime -
WBS Shear force (lb)
6.92
3.51
12.26

31. Crossbreeding System Production Efficiencies
Advantage1
2 Breed Rotation 16
3 Breed Rotation 20
2 Breed Sire Rotation 12
3 Breed Sire Rotation
2 Breed Composite2
4 Breed Composite2 18
2 Breed Terminal (complete) 9
3 Breed Terminal (complete)
3 Breed Terminal (buy F1 females) 28
3 Breed Sire Rotation (or Composite2 + Terminal) 24
1 Average percent increase over straightbreeding in lbs of calf weaned per cow exposed using only Bos
taurus breeds. Crossing Bos Taurus and Bos indicus breeds can increase these values 50 to 100%
2 Substituting a combination breed for a composite reduces the values slightly to moderately
depending on the amount of heterosis retained.

32. Crossbreeding System Production Efficiencies
Advantage1
2 Breed Rotation 16
3 Breed Rotation 20
2 Breed Sire Rotation 12
3 Breed Sire Rotation
2 Breed Composite2
4 Breed Composite2 18
2 Breed Terminal (complete) 9
3 Breed Terminal (complete)
3 Breed Terminal (buy F1 females) 28
3 Breed Sire Rotation (or Composite2 + Terminal) 24
Crossing Bos taurus
And Bos indicus
breeds can increase
these values
50 to 100%!
1 Average percent increase over straightbreeding in lbs of calf weaned per cow exposed using only Bos
taurus breeds. Crossing Bos Taurus and Bos indicus breeds can increase these values 50 to 100%
2 Substituting a combination breed for a composite reduces the values slightly to moderately
depending on the amount of heterosis retained.