Crossbred Cow as a Matrix: Understand Its Efficiency and When to Keep It in the Herd

The tricross cow as a matrix is an efficient and widely used alternative in rotational industrial crossbreeding systems, especially when the goal is to form productive, early-maturing females adapted to the tropical climate. Watch the video below and understand. This was the explanation provided by zootechnician Alexandre Zadra, a specialist in beef cattle genetics and author of the Crossbreeding blog, in the "Giro do Boi Responds" segment this Monday, July 14. The question came from rancher Felipe Botero from Colombia, who was interested in knowing until which generation it is recommended to maintain tricross females in the herd. According to Zadra, the answer is directly linked to the level of heterosis (or hybrid vigor) generated with each new crossbreeding. The tricross cow, that is, the result of crossing three different breeds, can be used as a matrix as long as it presents good maternal characteristics, such as: Zadra reinforces that when maintaining tricross cows as ...