Dutch Friesland breeding at that stage concentrated mainly on milk characteristics, which resulted in the dual-purpose characteristics of the breed disappearing. He however felt that these crosses tended too much to the Brahman side. He then used Brahman bulls on the cross heifers, which gave crosses made up of 75% Brahman and 25% Dutch Friesland. His breeding program initially consisted of putting Dutch Friesland bulls that are considered to be outstanding dualpurpose animals, to Brahman cows. In order to ensure sound meat characteristics, he required a good dual purpose and hardy breed. When Hunt in 1992 swapped stud breeding for a commercial beef farming enterprise, his aim was to breed hardy animals that could survive droughts, with sound hoofs, good meat characteristics and enough milk to raise their calves. He has the experience because, apart from being a farmer, he is also the stock buyer for more than one feedlot. With these bulls and a standardized herd of breeding cows he can deliver calves that the feedlot requires. In a cross breeding program using Brahman, Braunvieh and Charolais bulls in a specific sequence, Mr Bruce Hunt of the farm Vaalboschputs, close to Warrenton, is of the opinion that he now has the best recipe for breeding the ideal crossanimal. More than a decade ago this farmer stopped stud breeding and started with a cross breeding program which concentrated on feedlot production and that was when he started breeding the ideal cross – hardy animals with superior meat and milk characteristics. Braunvieh Cross Breeding Ideal crosses for the feedlot - Chris Jooste
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