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Home , American Brahman, American Breed, Animal breeding, Barzona, Beefmaster, Braford

E-180 6/09

Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies for VI: Creating

Figure 1. Robert Bakewell, circa 1775, English pioneer creator of breeds of .

Stephen P. Hammack*

here is often interest in creating new breeds of “Either 1) a subspecific group of domestic livestock cattle. Why would we need any new breeds? with definable and identifiable external characteristics that TWhat breeds do we already have? How are enable it to be separated by visual appraisal from other breeds created? similarly defined groups within the same or 2) a group for which geographical and/or cultural separation What is a ? from phenotypically similar groups has lead to acceptance There is no strict definition—scientific or otherwise— of its separate identity.” of a breed. A 1940 Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary There is no “official” recognition of cattle breeds in the defines breed as “a of which have some dis- United States. In the past, the U.S. Department of Agri- tinctive qualities in common.” A 2000 Oxford Dictionary culture periodically printed a bulletin, Breeds. says “a stock of animals within a species having similar Although inclusion in this publication was sometimes appearance, usually developed by deliberate selection.” *Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Emeritus, The Texas A&M System Dr. Jay Lush, in The of , said “the members of a breed are more closely related by descent and more like each other phenotypically than are random members of their whole species.” In 1999, the Food and Organization of the United Nations adopted the following broad definition of breed: thought to be official recognition, the 1975 edi- The development of what has been termed tion clearly stated, “Inclusion of a breed should not “pedigree breeds” began in England in the mid to be interpreted as official recognition by the U.S. late 1700s, pioneered by Robert Bakewell. This was Department of Agriculture.” The USDA does des- facilitated by the advent of fenced pastures, which ignate registry associations for purposes of brucel- allowed for selective rather than random mating. losis indemnity payments and importation. In general, development proceeded as explained by How many breeds of cattle are there? The Na- Lush in Breeding Plans: tional Association of Animal has 113 1. A generally useful production type was breed codes for identifying cattle semen. The identified. Breeds of Livestock Web site (http://www.ansi. 2. The best individuals of that type were congre- okstate.edu/breeds/cattle/) maintained by Okla- gated into a breeding group (herd) or groups, homa State University lists 268 cattle breeds in the often with little if any outside introduction of world, about the same number of “numerically or breeding stock. historically important” breeds listed in I. L. 3. Varying levels of sometimes intense inbreed- Mason’s World Dictionary of Livestock Breeds. ing occurred, but more often linebreeding to One definition of a breed might be the existence highly favored individuals was practiced to of a , also called herdbook, as in the increase the relationship to such individuals case of USDA above. The United States has 70 to while minimizing elevation of . 75 cattle breed registries. In some cases, more than 4. These groups became distinctive in type and one registry exists for essentially the same cattle. inheritance. The only actions needed to start a registry are to 5. If the group was desirable in some way, it at- adopt specific requirements of eligibility and start tracted notice and became popular with other recording ancestry. Although those requirements breeders. may vary considerably and may not be very strin- 6. In response to its popularity, the group in- gent, having an existing registry could be consid- creased in numbers, leading to records of an- ered to constitute a breed. cestry in a herdbook or registry to keep track The definition of “breed” has been discussed of inheritance. for a long time. With perhaps as accurate, concise, 7. A breed society or association was formed to and useful a definition as any, O. Lloyd-Jones, in facilitate accurate recording of ancestry, main- a 1915 Journal of Heredity paper entitled “What tain breed purity, and promote the breed. The is a Breed?” said, “A breed is a group of domestic first such registry for cattle began in England animals, termed such by common consent of the in 1822 for ; the Hereford registry breeders.” In short, a “breed” is whatever you started in England in 1846; and the Angus, say it is. actually Aberdeen-Angus, began in Scotland in 1862. Origin of breeds Even before cattle were domesticated, distinc- European breeds in the United States tive populations developed in response to the Early European colonists brought with them prevailing influences of . After mostly nondescript cattle as well as a few distinc- , some cattle populations became tive types. In the eastern part of what became the even more distinct as people influenced selection. United States, most of the cattle came from the This selection often involved aesthetic consider- British Isles. In the Southwest the cattle, known ations, such as color or horns, for various cultural generically as Criollo, came from Spain. and religious purposes. Later, some people selected Not long after the British breeds were formed, breeding stock for particular production purposes, some individuals were imported here. The most including milk, , and draft, but usually with numerous of those that could be called a breed little planning or direction. were Shorthorns, even though the English breed At times, individuals with desired character- registry had not yet started. A few came as early as istics were brought into one area from another. 1783, and significant numbers arrived around 1817. These individuals, usually sires, were bred to local A few Herefords also entered the country in 1817, stock and a new was formed. The new but the first meaningful numbers came in about population was not only similar to the imported 1840. The first few Angus came in 1873. stock, but it also had the influence of the local ani- Other breeds imported before 1900 from the mals along with that of any subsequent natural and British Isles included Ayrshire, Devon, Galloway, human-directed selection. Highland, Kerry, , and Sussex. Brown 2 Some associations distinguish between Pure- bred (with an arbitrary prescribed level of upgrad- ing) and “Fullblood.” If so, Fullbloods are usually considered to be: 1) individuals recorded in a for- eign breed registry officially recognized by the U.S. association (often the single registry considered to be the parent of the breed) and 2) individuals tracing exclusively to such ancestors. If there is a Fullblood designation, specific requirements are established by the particular breed association.

Why combine breeds? Figure 2. An 1811 painting of Comet, one of the foun- Crossbreeding of cattle was often viewed un- dation sires of . Image supplied courtesy of favorably until the past 50 years or so, when the Limited, copyright on image Beamish Museum Limited. www.beamishcollections.com/ industry gradually recognized the utility of favor- able breed combinations and , or vigor. This practice occurred earlier in and Swiss, Dutch Belted, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian, was followed by the crossbreeding of animals other and Jersey were brought in before 1900 from Conti- than cattle. Until then, cattle breeders stressed nental Europe or the English Channel Islands. creating and maintaining breed purity or “racial U.S. breed registries for Shorthorn, Hereford, constancy,” increasing visible uniformity, and and Angus began in 1846, 1881, and 1883, respec- developing prepotent breeding stock that could tively. All three required that foundation animals reliably transmit their characteristics to offspring. trace to ancestors recorded in the British registries. Some inbreeding usually occurred in achieving That is, no “upgrading” was allowed, which was not these ends. true of many breeds established or formed later in influence was thought necessary to this country. improve “common” stock. This may have been at least partly a function of nationalism and societal Upgrading structure. It is interesting to note that planned One way to create (or almost “pure”) crossbreeding and creation of new breeds from is by a process called upgrading—successive “top- crossbreds have been actively employed in the crosses” of purebred sires on other breeds, crosses, United States, a more open and heterogeneous so- or of unknown background. The first topcross re- ciety than those in Europe where the first breeds sults in 1/2-“blood” progeny. If that 1/2-blood is top- were developed. crossed with a purebred, the progeny is 3/4 “pure.” A third topcross results in a 7/8 blood, generally the minimum in most associations for registry as of- ficially defined Purebred. Some breed associations require 15/16 or 31/32 to be Purebred. In a number of registries, one more topcross is required for males than females in order to be Purebred. Upgrading results in some residual content of the base cattle, with the amount depending on how many top- crosses are involved. As with defining a breed, the definition of Purebred is arbitrary, as determined by the breed association. Upgrading is generally the quickest and least Figure 3. Photograph taken in 1924 upon importation of expensive means of generating large numbers of Aristocrata, sire of Manso who appears in the pedigrees purebreds. For this reason, most of the new breeds of about 80 percent of today’s Grey Brahmans. Courtesy imported into the United States from Europe be- of J. D. Hudgins, Inc. ginning in the late 1960s used upgrading as the primary method of establishment and development. Breeders may make new breed combinations This group includes , , , when there is a perceived need for a production Limousin, Maine-Anjou, Salers, Simmental, and type better suited to prevailing conditions. The some less numerous breeds. U.S. Gulf Coast is characterized by a harsh climate 3 of generally persistent heat and high humidity. The Other American breeds were created, some includ- first breed created in the United States by combin- ing heat-tolerant non-Bos indicus breeds in addi- ing existing breeds—the —was tion to or in place of Brahman. developed from a foundation better suited to those These first crossbred-base breeds were devel- conditions than the British breeds. The Brahman oped over periods of at least 20 to 30 years before a was formed in the early 1900s from humped cattle registry was established. Even after establishment, (Bos indicus, also called ) native to the Indian some breeds allowed registry without knowing par- subcontinent. Some of the foundation cattle came entage, at least in the closed herd of a foundation directly from India but were largely from Brazil, . But in most breeds created recently a reg- mostly of the Guzerat, Gyr, , and istry was established when breed formation began, breeds. with required documentation of parentage. Shortly after development of the Brahman be- After quarantine and disease-testing facilities gan, other breeders in the same locale saw a need were established in North America, the importa- for a type intermediate to European cattle (Bos tion of many new breeds began in the late 1960s, taurus) and Bos indicus. The quickest and most mostly from Continental Europe. This led to vari- logical way to accomplish this was by combining ous combinations of British and Continental breeds those types. This was the motivation behind what in many commercial herds, particularly outside the has come to be known as “American” breeds. South and Southwest. A few of these combinations The first of these breeds created by combining have registries. different genetic types, not just different breeds of the same type, was the Santa Gertrudis, which Breed combinations was developed on the in South Texas. Breeds may be combined in several ways for These cattle are usually characterized as being 5/8 different purposes, including the creation of a new Shorthorn and 3/8 Brahman. However, the group breed with a registry. Breed registries can be closed of 52 bulls initially used in 1918 were 3/4 and 7/8 Bos or open. In a closed registry, individuals must trace indicus (the name “Brahman” was not officially to ancestors recorded in the registry at the time of adopted until 1924 when the American Brahman formation or closing. Open registries allow outside registry was started), so the precise breed content stock to be brought in at any point by upgrading or of Santa Gertrudis is not known. other means. • Pool breeds are formed by various paths of combining two or more existing breeds and, in some cases, upgrading to create a new genetic pool. There is no particular intent to create spe- cific percentages of the constituent breeds or to keep track of the percentages that result as the breed is developed. Some pool breeds establish a closed registry, and some allow upgrading once the breed is established, but they usually do not allow creation anew from parent breeds. • Formula breeds are formed by combining two or more existing breeds to create specific breed Figure 4. Monkey, considered to be the foundation sire percentages or ranges of percentages. If a range of Santa Gertrudis. Used by permission of King Ranch. is allowed, the exact breed percentage of indi- viduals is usually noted on pedigrees. After in- Beginning in the early 1930s, Beefmasters dividuals of the defined percentage or formula were formed on the Lasater Ranch in South Texas. are created, the registry may either be closed That breed is now thought to be a little less than or allow creation from the parent breeds, but 1/2 Brahman and a little more than 1/4 each of upgrading is generally not allowed. If creation Shorthorn and Hereford. In the mid 1940s, sev- is allowed from the parent breeds, most asso- eral breeders, most notably the Adams Ranch in ciations arbitrarily define an individual whose Florida, created the breed from crosses of composition is that of the prescribed formula Brahman and Hereford. After several breeders had to be Purebred, regardless of the path taken experimented with crossing Angus and Brahman to reach that formula. However, some animal for some years, a specific content of 5/8 Angus and breeding authorities hold that it takes the first 3/8 Brahman was established for in 1949. generation of progeny from intermating indi- 4 viduals of the prescribed formula to be logi- The method used to form new combinations is less cally called purebred. If creation is from parent important than the choice of constituent breeds to breeds, the number of early generations of in- fit prevailing production conditions and market termating is often indicated on pedigrees. specifications. For more information on choosing • Composites are populations formed by cross- breeds, see E-190, Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies ing two or more existing breeds in specific for Beef Cattle—V: Types and Breeds—Character- percentages, followed by intermating of the istics and Uses, and E-191, Texas Adapted Genetic crosses to maintain the percentages as with Strategies for Beef Cattle—VII: Sire Types for Com- formulas. However, a specific intent in creat- mercial Herds. ing composites is to maintain the maximum possible levels of heterosis in future genera- Consequences of combining breeds tions without additional crossing. This dif- Crossbreds have long been thought to be inher- ferentiates composites from pool and formula ently more variable than purebreds. But, theoreti- breeds. Composites are more an alternative to cally, the progeny from the first cross of two breeds crossbreeding systems than a means of creat- should be rather uniform, at least in production ing a breed. Composite breed has often been characteristics if not in physical features such as used to mean those formed by combining color. In a study involving large numbers of several existing breeds. In fact, the term composite British and Continental breeds at the U.S. Meat breeds probably should not be used. Instead, Animal Research Center (MARC) it was reported designation as combination breeds (pools and that “increased genetic variation in composite formulas) would distinguish them from true populations was not observed relative to contribut- composites. ing purebreds.” • Crossbreds are hybrid combinations that It has also been thought that continued cross- will not be used to form a breed or a compos- ing, as in developing combination breeds, would ite. In much of agriculture, especially crops, destroy heterosis. One of the purposes of the “dead-end” or terminal crosses are the bases MARC work was to determine how much heterosis of commercial production. Such crosses must is lost when crossbreds are intermated. In theory, be constantly re-created. There are many ex- when first-generation (F1) crosses are intermated, amples in beef production, a common one half of their heterosis is lost in the second-genera- being the Brahman-crossbred female such as tion (F2) progeny. But if those F2 progeny are then the Brahman-Hereford or Brahman-Angus. intermated, there should be no additional reduc- Crossbred females are often bred to another tion of heterosis. breed in a terminal cross, in which case they The MARC research basically confirmed this must be re-created when replacement females theory of heterosis retention, at least in extended are needed. However, crossbreds can be used generations of intermating British and Continental for breeding in continuous crossbreeding sys- crosses. In practice then, after the initial reduction tems. But if this is done, outside genetic influ- of heterosis from the first intermating, the only ad- ence (usually sires) is introduced on a regular ditional loss in subsequent generations would be basis. For more information on crossbreeding caused by whatever inbreeding might occur. For systems, see another publication in this series, this reason, to maximize retention of heterosis, E-189, Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies for closed populations of breed combinations (includ- Beef Cattle—IV: Breeding Systems. ing breeds formed from combinations) should be These four methods of combining breeds are as numerous as possible. Heterosis is more fully often confused and misunderstood. Also, there is covered in E-189, Texas Adapted Genetic Strategies no “best” method of forming combinations nor for Beef Cattle—IV: Breeding Systems. any “best” breed percentages. Some people think that pools allow selection over time to result in the most useful and adapted genetic structures. Oth- Breeds in Texas ers believe that adherence to a formula increases The background and U.S. registry requirements genetic uniformity. Some place major importance of breeds most influential in Texas are: on maintaining heterosis without continual cross- • Angus—The registry started in 1883 with base ing. And still others merely implement a planned animals all recorded in the founding Scottish crossbreeding system. registry. It has been closed since inception, Purposes and intents have as much to do with except to cattle recorded in approved foreign combining breeds as do the methods employed. registries. 5 • —This breed was formed from a • Chianina—The registry started in 1972 with pool of Brahman, Hereford, and Shorthorn. imports from . Any percentage may be The registry started in 1961. Base purebreds registered, which is designated on pedigree. are all from or trace to the founding Lasater It has a Fullblood designation. It has separate herd. Registry is open, allowing upgrading registries for Chiangus, Chiford, Chimaine, with three topcrosses on visually inspected and Red Chiangus. base cattle and inspected topcrosses to arrive • Gelbvieh—The registry started in 1971 with at Purebred (7/8). imports from Germany. Registry is open with • Braford—The registry started in 1979 with ap- upgrading to Purebred (7/8 for female, 15/16 for proved foundation cattle formed from pools of male). It has a Fullblood designation and a Brahman and Hereford. It later accepted docu- separate registry for Balancer. mented 5/8 Hereford-3/8 Brahman individuals. • Hereford—The registry began in 1881 with the Now the registry is open, where Purebred (de- base animals all recorded in the English regis- fined as 5/8 Hereford-3/8 Brahman, plus -or mi try. It has been closed since inception, except nus 5 percent) can be created by any process, to cattle recorded in approved foreign regis- including upgrading. tries. Formerly separate registries for horned • Brahman—This breed was formed from and polled have been combined. pools of several Bos indicus breeds and some • Holstein—The registry started in 1872 with upgrading. The registry started in 1924 and cattle from Holland. Cattle of any percentage closed in 1939. It opened thereafter for a small Holstein can be registered, with four designa- number of 1946 imports and later to a few tions based on source (and breed percentage) individuals of Bos indicus breeds recorded in as follows: North American registry ancestry other countries’ approved registries. Former (100 percent); North American (up to 99 per- separate registries for American Gray and cent); approved foreign registry ancestry (100 American Red have been combined. percent); foreign (up to 99 percent). • Brangus—These cattle are created using a spe- • Jersey—The registry started in 1868 with cattle cific formula. The registry started in 1949 with imported from the Jersey Isles and England. It foundation individuals of 5/8 Angus-3/8 -Brah includes cattle descended from original herd- man content. The open registry allows for the book and from parents recorded in approved creation of Purebreds from registered Angus foreign registries. It has an upgrading program and Brahman parents. There is no upgrading to Purebred (31/32). program. This breed was formerly limited to • Limousin—The registry started in 1968 with black color but now allows reds. The former imports from France. It is open, with upgrad- International Red Brangus registry has been ing to Purebred (7/8 for female, 15/16 for male) merged with Brangus. and for lower percentages. It has a Fullblood • Braunvieh—The registry started in 1984 with designation (100 percent). It has a separate foundation cattle recorded by the Swiss Braun- registry for Lim-Flex. vieh Federation as Swiss Original Braunvieh • Maine-Anjou—The registry started in 1969 (containing no American Brown Swiss in- with imports from France. It is open, with fluence). Open registry allows upgrading to upgrading to Purebred (7/8). It has a Fullblood Purebred (7/8 female, 15/16 male). The fullblood designation and a separate registry for designation is called Original Braunvieh. It MaineTainers. has a separate registry for Beef Builder. • —The registry started in 1954, re- • Charolais—This breed was formed from cording red animals out of parents registered Mexican imports from France beginning in in Angus association. It has four categories: the 1930s. Registry started in 1957. Registry 1A—100 percent Red Angus; 1B—87 to less is open, with upgrading to Purebred (31/32). It than 100 percent Red Angus; II—also 87 to less also designates Full French (French imports or than 100 percent Red Angus, but with one or from French parents imported after 1961) and more disqualifying phenotypic features; III— American French (minimum 15/16 Full French). less than 87 percent Red Angus. It has a separate registry (Red Factor Division) • Red Brangus—The American Red Brangus for Purebred individuals of colors other than registry started in 1956, recording red animals white, light straw, or light cream. It also has a of purebred Angus and Brahman breeding. separate registry for Charbray. It registers animals of any percentage of the two breeds, contingent upon approved visual 6 inspection, so the formula varies. It does not Imported breeds of lesser numerical influence allow upgrading but does allow creation from in Texas with current U.S. registries or that may be the two parent breeds. The former Internation- registered by current U.S. registries are: al Red Brangus registry requiring 5/8 Angus- Akaushi 3/8Brahman has been merged with Brangus. Ankole Watusi Milking Shorthorn • Salers—The registry started in 1974 with Ayrshire Nelore imports from France. It is open, with upgrad- Belgian Blue Normande ing to Purebred (15/16). It has a Fullblood desig- Parthenais nation. Blonde d’Aquitaine Piedmontese • Santa Gertrudis—This breed was formed on British White Pinzgauer the King Ranch from a pool of approximately Brown Swiss Red Poll 5/8 Shorthorn-3/8 Brahman. The registry started Devon in 1951 with King Ranch cattle and officially Dexter South Devon designated Foundation Herds (tracing to King Dutch Belted Sussex Ranch). The registry is open and allows up- Galloway Tarentaise grading with 1/2 and 3/4 bloods referred to as Guernsey Tuli Star 5 and 7/8 being Purebred. Gyr Wagyu • Shorthorn—The registry started in 1846 with Highland Welsh Black the base animals all registered in the English Indu-Brazil White Park herdbook. It was closed except to the English herdbook and other herdbooks tracing exclu- Combination breeds of lesser numerical influ- sively to the English. It was opened in 1973 to ence in Texas with current U.S. registries or that other approved foreign registries not neces- may be registered by current U.S. registries are: sarily tracing exclusively to English registry. It • —1/2 Brahman, 1/4 Charolais, has an appendix upgrading program to 15/16, 1/8 bison, 1/16 Hereford, 1/16 Shorthorn called Fullblood, which is considered to be 100 • Amerifax—5/8 Angus, 3/8 Beef Friesian percent Shorthorn. Base Appendix individu- • Balancer—1/4 to 3/4 Gelbvieh, 1/4 to 3/4 Angus or als enter as 3/8 to 7/8 blood, depending on the Red Angus, possibly 1/8 other breed fraction of Shorthorn ancestry as defined by • Beefmaster Advancer—1/2 or more Registered the association. American Milking Shorthorns Beefmaster and 1/2 or less other registered breed tracing to the original English registry can en- • —pool with about 1/4 each Africander, ter as 100 percent Shorthorn. It has a separate Angus, Hereford, Santa Gertrudis registry for Durham Reds. • Beef Builder—1/4 and higher Braunvieh • Simbrah—This breed is registered in the • Brahmousin—5/8 Limousin, 3/8 Brahman Simmental association as Purebred (specific • Bralers—5/8 Salers, 3/8 Brahman formula of 5/8 Simmental- 3/8 Brahman) or • BraunAngus—at least 1/4 and no more than Percentage (combinations of not less than 3/8 15/16 (males) or 7/8 (females) Braunvieh with Simmental, not less than 1/4 Brahman, and not remainder registered Angus or Red Angus more 3/8 other breeds). There is no upgrading • Braunbray—at least 1/4 and no more than 15/16 program, except of Simmental parentage. (males) or 7/8 (females) Braunvieh with remain- • Simmental—The registry started in 1968 with der from animals registered in a U. S. Zebu imports from Continental Europe. It has an breed association open registry, with upgrading to Purebred (7/8 • BueLingo—pool of Angus, Chianina, Dutch female, 15/16 male). It has a Fullblood designa- Belted, Shorthorn tion. Accepted individuals may be recorded in • Charbray—5/8 to 13/16 Charolais, 3/16 to 3/8 any registry in the World Simmental Federa- Brahman tion. It also has a registry for SimAngus. • Chiangus—any percentages of Chianina and • —The registry started in 1964 Angus with a pool of Southwestern U.S. Criollo-type • Chiford—any percentages of Chianina and cattle (from seven long-time breeders of this Hereford type) approved by inspection for prescribed • Chimaine—any percentages of Chianina and visible characteristics. Inspection ceased and Maine-Anjou the registry was closed in 1975. • —pool of Criollo-type Mexican cattle 7 • Durham Reds—1/4 to 3/4 Shorthorn, remainder • MARC II—1/4 Angus, 1/4 Gelbvieh, 1/4 Hereford, Red Angus 1/4 Simmental • Florida Cracker/Pineywoods—pool of • MARC III—1/4 Angus, 1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Pinz- Criollo-type Florida cattle gauer, 1/4 Red Poll • Gelbray—5/8 Gelbvieh, 3/8 Brahman A number of what might be called new South- • Lim-Flex—1/4 to 3/4 Limousin, 1/4 to 3/4 Angus or ern combinations have been developed; these con- Red Angus, possibly 1/8 other breed tain 1/4 or less Bos indicus (and, in some instances, • MaineTainer—1/4 to 5/8 Maine Anjou a portion of other heat-tolerant breeds) instead of • Murray Grey—pool of Angus and Shorthorn 3/8 to Bos1/2 indicus in the established American • Red Chiangus—any percentages of Chianina breeds. Some of these include Angus or Red Angus and Red Angus and generally 1/4 or less Brahman. Also being de- • RX3—1/2 Red Angus, 1/4 Hereford, 1/4 Red veloped are other new Southern combinations, all Holstein of which have better heat tolerance than combina- • Salorn—5/8 Salers, 3/8 Texas Longhorn tions of British and Continental breeds. • —pool of Red Poll and N’Dama (a humpless west African heat-tolerant breed) Summary • SimAngus—1/4 to 3/4 Simmental, 1/4 to 3/4 Angus Breeds of cattle may be combined in several or Red Angus, possibly no more than 1/4 other ways for various purposes. Combinations may be breed(s) made to realize the many benefits of heterosis. A • Simbravieh—minimum 1/4 Braunvieh, 1/8- Sim new combination may be better suited to prevail- mental, and 1/8 Brahman with no more than 1/4 ing conditions. Some producers may simply want from any other breeds to form their own unique population. Regardless • South Poll—1/4 Red Angus, 1/4 Hereford, 1/4- Bar of the motivation, many combinations have been zona, 1/4 Senepol made and more are sure to come. Whether a partic- • Southern Balancer—at least 1/4 Gelbvieh and ular combination is a “breed” is open to discussion. 1/16 to 1/2 tropical-adapted breed or combination of tropical-adapted breed(s) For further reading • Texon—pool of Devon and Texas Longhorn To obtain other publications in this Texas Adapted Genetics Strategies for Beef Cattle series, Other breed combinations contact your county Extension office or see the Beginning in the late 1970s, MARC created the Extension Web site http://AgriLifeBookstore.org and following British-Continental combinations main- the Texas A&M Animal Science Extension Web tained as true composites: site http://beef.tamu.edu. • MARC I—1/4 Braunvieh, 1/4 Charolais, 1/4- Lim ousin, 1/8 Angus, 1/8 Hereford

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Educational programs of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Edward G. Smith, Director, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M System. Revision 8