Excellent question. I assume that you are a commercial cow/calf producer. The first thing to do is write down your goals for the cow herd, and then, based on those goals, determine the breed or breeds that will allow me to accomplish them. Once you have made that decision, locate seedstock producers in your area who produce that breed. Ask them for their goals and objectives and see how closely they mesh with yours. Also, share your goals with the seed stock producer. Your goals need to include what labor and feed resources are available. If you have limited feed resources and keep replacement heifers from within your own herd, then you would want to stay away from large framed cattle with a lot of milk potential. Such traits require more feed inputs as compared to smaller framed, average milk potential cattle due to increased maintenance energy and production requirements. If you are limited on labor, then easy calving will be important to you. If you are producing calves that are going to a specific feeder market, and lean meat yield is important, then there will be certain breeds or breed combinations that you need to consider. Your local county agent or educator usually has contacts of breeders in your area. Lean them to give you a hand.

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