ABSTRACT
Most of the available data are from research projects in which Criollo cattle have been crossed with different Bos indicus breeds. Criollo cattle were introduced to Latin America by the invading Spaniards and Portuguese in the sixteenth century. Because of the danger that the Criollo might be eradicated, several experiment stations and producers have investigated their potential for crossbreeding. Most Latin American beef cattle are produced on native grassland, and the existing extensive production systems are characterized by very small or very large herds, suboptimum nutritional levels, droughts and floods, diseases, and direct climatic stress. Zebu cows have been crossbred to European bulls in tropical Latin America. Many producers in Latin America have claimed that crosses between different Bos indicus breeds are superior to purebreds. Results from many locations in tropical Latin America provide strong evidence that native or introduced pastures can provide for higher growth rates and better reproductive efficiency from crossbreds than from Criollo or grade zebus.
