Handout
Authors
James Sprinkle
Publication Date: November 2000 | Publication Number: az1164 Download PDF
The establishment of any new breed of livestock is always accompanied by a certain amount of inbreeding depression which reduces conception and survivability. Properly managed (no large breed sires on small framed, young cattle), crossbreeding restores some of the fitness to cattle populations which was lost during breed development. The largest advantage seen with crossbreeding is with lowly heritable traits such as reproduction and cow longevity. Little advantage will be seen with highly heritable carcass traits. The advantage expressed by crossbred cattle over the average of both parents is referred to as hybrid vigor or heterosis.