This would have to be one of the most subjective pieces of information you'll receive all day but I'll say it with great conviction...it depends!

Over the years we've used Hereford bulls on Holsteins, Jerseys, Limousins, Charolais, Black Angus, Red Angus, and dairy F1's. Each of the crosses had benefits and drawbacks and what we found out was...the best cross depends on what your trying to acheive.


1. Holstein / Jersey for Dairy F1
This cross is terrific if you want to build a female breeding herd. Crossing dairy F1's back to a Hereford or Black Angus bull will produce a sought after crop of calves come sale time.
They'll carry plenty of weight and show the sappiness that only comes from a heavy milking dam.


2. Limousin / Charolais for Feeders These crosses are excellent as feeders, the calves will often carry a single copy of the myostatin gene (MSTN) and grow like weeds. They will typically offer more depth and volume than your typical euro cattle and more muscle than your typical brittish animal.
The temperament of Limousin can be a bit questionable but using a Limo bull on Hereford cows often adds some calm to the calves.


3. Red Angus...Probably Skip These calves are best described as Red Baldies...they often have blotchy faces and an undesireable coat color that sees them get discounted at the sale yard.
There's nothing wrong with the cross, and provides some benefit in a replacement program where heat tolerance is an advantage, but there is reduced demand for this cross.


4. Black Angus for Everything This is the cross I like best for a self replacing herd. They make for sturdy cows with longevity and offer a nice combination of performance and temperament.
They are highly desireable in the markets and you don't get discounted like you do with red coated animals.