Selecting a female breed for commercial beef production is a most important consideration that is vital to the success of the beef operation. The female is your factory and should fit the environment and situation under which she is expected to produce a viable calf. In most commercial situations, a crossbred female composed of breeds which complement each other performs well. Two-thirds of the economic advantage of crossbreeding comes from having crossbred cows and the maternal hybrid vigor they express. Maternal heterosis can improve reproductive efficiency and longevity as well as calf survival. Crossbreeding systems that maximize maternal and individual hybrid vigor can improve weaning weight per cow exposed by as much as 25-30 percent. U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat Animal Research Center data accumulated over the past 30 years and a wealth of other data supports the use of structured crossbreeding systems. In particular, for areas of the United States with adequate forage quality and availability British crosses or British X Continental crosses work quite well. In more arid environments, British crosses such as Angus X Hereford or Red Angus X Hereford can be very successful. Research over the past 50 to 60 years has shown the Brahman cross female to be highly productive under the heat, humidity, and insect pressure that cattle encounter along the Gulf Coast. Generally, this female is an F-1 composed of Hereford X Brahman or Angus X Brahman or the reciprocals. This female is fertile, milks well, is long lived, and works well in a terminal crossbreeding program using a terminal sire breed. Few commercial production situations necessitate straight-bred cows.

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