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About Composites

Composite breeds are developed by crossing two or more breeds, then stabilising the cross by interbreeding for several generations.
The aim is to increase efficiency and profit by combining the best features of many breeds and to capture a large proportion of the resulting hybrid vigour.

In this way, cattle suited to various markets and environments are produced, without many of the difficulties of continual crossbreeding.
The composite herd is as simple to can run as a straightbreeding operation.
(see further detail in Technical Information).

On this site we use the following three definitions:

CLOSED COMPOSITE - a composite which has been closed after the initial crossing, then stabilised for two or more generations.

OPEN COMPOSITE - the breed mix has been stabilised, but new introductions are made , of the same or similar breed mix.

CROSSBRED - first and second crosses. These may be part of the development phase of a composite, or purpose bred for sale as crossbred bulls eg. Angus x Charolais first cross.

Benefits of composite breeding include:

• Appropriate selection of traits from base breeds can ensure composites   adapt to your environment and fit your market specifications. This is   particularly important in Northern Australia, where adaptation traits are so   critical.

• With judicious trait selection, improved meat quality and increased retail   beef yield can be achieved - both important for greater profitability.

• Research in Australia and other countries such as the USA, has shown the ability of well constructed Composites to retain high amounts of hybrid   vigour. For example, at the USDA Meat and Animal Research Centre   (MARC "Clay Centre"), Composite lines have been maintained for several   generations. In their environment, four breed composites maintain a 15%   minimum weaning weight advantage over purebreds. This retains
  67-75% of the total possible hybrid vigour exhibited if a first cross is mated   to a third breed.

• As Jim Leachman says: :"It's the cowman's only free lunch. Fertility, milk,   survivability and longevity are traits which have low heritability and respond   very slowly to within breed selection, but can be improved quickly using   heterosis in composites."

• By selecting traits from appropriate pure breeds (breed effect), you can   lower birth weights and increase calving ease, milking ability and growth   rates. You can select for maturity pattern, polledness and 100% red or   black cattle to eliminate eye cancers. This results in more profitable cattle.

• Simpler than most crossbreeding systems by reducing both the number of   bulls needed for small herds and the need for multiple-joining paddocks.

• Correct herd weaknesses, and change cattle faster to meet changing   markets.

• Composites produce uniform progeny while retaining heterosis. "Clay   Centre" has proven that the progeny of composites are more uniform than   breed rotation crossing systems employing the same breeds.