Commercial Breeders - Crossbreeding
A properly planned move into crossbreeding, making use of the benefits derived from hybrid vigor and the combining ability of different breeds, will increase profit per hectare for a beef enterprise. The most effective systems are those which use the most productive, pure bred animals, selected for the characteristics which, when combined, will achieve the desired end product - a beef carcass that provides maximum return with minimum input.
The excellent grazing efficiency and the ability to produce good beef and milk on high forage ration, have been moulded into the South Devon breed for centuries. The South Devon is regarded as the most docile of all breeds. This means less stress in cattle transported and in the yards, consequently less bruising and damage, lower weight losses and more red meat.
The South Devon is a truly versatile breed, which produces premium quality beef characterised by low fat covering. South Devons improve the growth rates, milk production and carcass quality of other British breeds. They also improve the fertility, calving ease and efficiency of production of the large, lean European and tropical breeds. South Devons and Bos indicus breeds combine well when crossed. Their crossbred progeny retain the desirable Bos indicus traits and show improved live weight gains, muscling and temperament, which they inherit from the South Devon. These crosses also exhibit early maturity, which means that calves will finish at an earlier age and the female progeny come into their breeding and productive cycle earlier than other British breed and European breed crosses. South Devon cross Bos indicus females will have improved milk production and mothering ability, which results in the production of heavier weaners.
Combine the traits of the South Devon with hybrid vigor and you will have an exceptionally efficient, high-performance, flexible and easy-care beef producer. As a result, you can expect up to 20 percent increase in weight with the first cross and an additional increase with the second cross-calves. Incorporating South Devons in a crossbreeding programme will produce fast growing, leaner, higher yielding calves from other cow breeds or crosses. They can be marketed at desired weights at an earlier age owing to higher performance, hybrid vigor and the combining ability of the South Devon.
View photo's of the following Crosses
South Devon X Afrikaner type
South Devon X Brahman type
South Devon X Angus type
South Devon X Drakensberger type
South Devon X Beefmaster type
South Devon X Nguni type
South Devon X Sanganer type
