Crossbred or purebred debate divides beef industry
Pure or cross breeding? It’s a subject that can rumble’s opinion from both sides, but throw composites in to the mix and you really do have a debate on your hands.
In a novel twist to conference proceedings, delegates heard from four speakers either in favour or against composite breeding. And although the format of the debate was changed last minute to discuss crossbreeding, opinions did get rather heated.
However, the situation was beest summed up by Jose Fernando from Brazil, when he said the industry needed both sectors to be succesful. “Industry needs good pure breeds, but also needs cross breeding to maximise performance. Every farmer needs the best breeds to suit your resources, climate, labour and soil type, so it’s likely the cross bred animal more commonly delivers those objectives. The other point to consider is that not everyone can afford branded beef of the highest quality, there is, therefore, a place for both.”
PANEL: FOR
Speaking for the motion were Stabaliser breeder and JSR Farming Group’s Richard Fuller and Yorkshire beef farmer Mike Powley.
We’re clearly facing a new era, so we need a suckler cow capable of rising to the challenge, said Mr Fuller. ” We need a cow that is easy calving, has superior fertility, good milk ability, is docile, physically robust and will last in any environment. Therefore, to get the best of both worlds, the composite female is the way forward.”
Meanwhile, Mr Powley said farmers should make use of the best bits of pure breeds to create stock suited to their farm type and resources and market demands. “In most situations, a cow requires different traits than the terminal sire. In the cow you’re looking for milk, calving ability, docility, early puberty and grass and forage conversion ability. But in the sire you need growth and lean muscling ability to provide a premium product to suit market demand. You can’t have all that if you’re breeding pure.
“When market requirements change, as they are likely to do, beef producers must respond quickly to that change. For a pure-bred herd this will take far longer with a limited pool of genetics than a cross bred herd.
PANEL: AGAINST
Speaking against the motion were Aberdeen-Angus breeder Nigel Hammill and Limousin breeder Richard Oates.
The commercial man obviously needs the pure terminal sire, what ever breed to produce a viable suckler herd, explained Mr Hammill. “However, I challenge the benefit of hybrid vigour after the first or second generation.”
“Also take the situation of using a terminal sire on a dairy cow. You know what you’re going to get with a British Blue or Limousin in terms of maximised performance, but what will you get when using a composite? Surely it’s the complete opposite effect of what this industry is trying to achieve – consistency.
“We’ve seen what the pedigree breeds can do in terms of marketability, namely the Aberdeen-Angus and to a lesser extent the Hereford. Could the Stabaliser become a brand for someone like Burger King or McDonalds, I think not.”
Seconding the motion Mr Oates urged farmers to use pedigree breeding to inject some enjoyment into farming. “Additionally, pure breeds offer the chance to make best use of performance recording. And a pure cow sells better as a cull cow, often has a higher health status due to the likelihood of coming from a closed herd and competes better in this market place.”
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