Cow-Calf Certification Practice Exam

Which breeding strategy is most advantageous when looking to increase output?

1. Single breed mating

2. Terminal crossbreeding

3. Rotational crossbreeding

4. Purebred systems

The correct answer is: Terminal crossbreeding

The most advantageous breeding strategy for increasing output is terminal crossbreeding. This method involves mating two different breeds with the aim of producing offspring that possess desirable traits, such as enhanced growth rates, feed efficiency, and overall performance. In terminal crossbreeding, all offspring are typically purchased for meat production, allowing producers to focus on maximizing the desirable characteristics of the final product. This strategy is particularly effective because it allows the use of specialized sires that are best suited for producing high-quality market animals. It avoids the complexities of retaining replacement heifers, making it easier to concentrate on maximizing the beef output from the cows. Consequently, producers can benefit from hybrid vigor or heterosis, which often leads to improved performance compared to purebred systems. Rotational crossbreeding, while beneficial for maintaining genetic diversity and health within a herd, may not achieve outputs as efficiently as terminal crossbreeding for market sales. Single breed mating and purebred systems tend to limit genetic variation and can lead to slower improvement in overall production traits compared to the dynamic and targeted approach of terminal crossbreeding.