ABSTRACT
The tremendous increase in the number of cattle breeds in the US over the past 15 yr has presented the commercial cattle industry with an excellent opportunity to improve the efficiency of beef production. Type is extremely important to a cow-calf man because it directly affects his profit. Beef cattle type has always been in a state of change, and for a reason. That reason is profit. Changing conditions have dictated that certain types of cattle were more profitable, and cattlemen have changed type to meet the demand. Probably the greatest factor influencing cattle type has been the movement by the commercial cattle industry from straight-bred cattle to crossbreds. Cow-calf producers have been interested in increasing milk production of beef cows to increase weaning weight. Milk production potential can be increased most rapidly, however, by infusing genes from animals of dairy breeding.
