Crossing your own meat breed

[Triple Willow]

You are close--- but to me the ideal three way cross is Herf cows, under Angus bulls-- and those baldy's under Char bulls..

I struggle to believe you found a high percentage Chi anywhere-- guessing it was just a generic Angus...

In the poultry world- two breed crosses tend to work better than three's.  The consistancy factor is lacking usually with three-- same as cattle.  

I'm guessing you live in a hot climate- if you were using eared cattle- be careful using super fluffy chickens-- they might not excel down there.  

It's going to take you something that lays in 6 weeks- to counterbalance the slow maturity of the cornish-- well, atleast my birds and all other's that I know about are so slow growing, it's not funny.  

Read my BYC page, it outlies something that will intreque you.

This was a university beef cattle program (research/thesis) so we had access to some very good cattle from around the country. The results were pretty outstanding. The only drawback was the temperment of the F1 Angus/Brahma cows. But even that made the work more exciting. lol They were great mamas! They made up for their temperment with their mothering ability and the outstanding calves they dropped. Besides the purebred Chianina and Semintal bulls we used artificial insemenation pretty extensively also. That gives you access to genetics that you might not ever be able to actually own... or would ever care to own.
If I ever get around to it I will have to try the three way cross in meat chickens just to prove to myself whether it will work or not. It will be fun anyhow and yes, they will all taste like chicken. lol
Thanks for your reply.

 

[kfacres]

This was a university beef cattle program (research/thesis) so we had access to some very good cattle from around the country. The results were pretty outstanding. The only drawback was the temperment of the F1 Angus/Brahma cows. But even that made the work more exciting. lol They were great mamas! They made up for their temperment with their mothering ability and the outstanding calves they dropped. Besides the purebred Chianina and Semintal bulls we used artificial insemenation pretty extensively also. That gives you access to genetics that you might not ever be able to actually own... or would ever care to own.
If I ever get around to it I will have to try the three way cross in meat chickens just to prove to myself whether it will work or not. It will be fun anyhow and yes, they will all taste like chicken. lol
Thanks for your reply.

The only purebred Chi bulls in the USA were imported, and that hasn't happened for 40 years...

The Chi breed is in serious hurt, matter of fact, they just upped the national percentage to be eligible to show b/c the breed has lost focus of being pure.

If you think brahma cows have temperment- you didn't experience any Chi's...

Good talk, it's rare for me to find someone on here with any other livestock experience- let alone something this close to home.

 

[Triple Willow]

The only purebred Chi bulls in the USA were imported, and that hasn't happened for 40 years...

The Chi breed is in serious hurt, matter of fact, they just upped the national percentage to be eligible to show b/c the breed has lost focus of being pure.

If you think brahma cows have temperment- you didn't experience any Chi's...

Good talk, it's rare for me to find someone on here with any other livestock experience- let alone something this close to home.

I hate to hear that about Chi's. The only dealings I have had with them were that one bull we used and his offspring. I really liked him. He was a big ol' long legged bull - nice! And he sure made some nice babies with those F1's.
Boy when you cross the Angus and Brahma the mothering ability gets really high - dangerously high. LOL They were some serious mamas. It was fun and entertaining back then but that was in my much younger days. I can't move near that fast anymore. LOL
Yes I have some experience in beef cattle, dairy cattle, veal calves, and horses but I have been out of those lines of work for a good while. Now time to play with chickens. Good talking to you too.

 

[kfacres]

If anyone was interested, I am considering cutting back on my Cornish breeder birds this summer, just getting too many. PIckup only.

 

[ijon]

sounds like you are doing a great job eggbuster!
to the OP your on a good track of thinking get a large bird that is a good layer and keep a huge roo. Lots of people will talk of F2s and variances and life expectancy etc etc etc. But people like eggbuster and many others are proving it can be done, just pick your path and go for it, not only is it fun and rewarding but you learn so much along the way.

Thats the fun part of the whole project, your just seeing what you can do.

 

[Liberty Nursery]

I am still new to chickens so my questions may seem stupid. Has anyone tried these breeding projects with Dorkings? When I get up enough chicken experience I want to start making my own meat birds and not be dependent on someone else to feed myself. If I was doing a commercial farm the Cornish X Rocks would be perfect but the 2 I have now are not exactly what I want in the back yard. At least they help me make compost really fast.

 

[kfacres]

I am still new to chickens so my questions may seem stupid. Has anyone tried these breeding projects with Dorkings? When I get up enough chicken experience I want to start making my own meat birds and not be dependent on someone else to feed myself. If I was doing a commercial farm the Cornish X Rocks would be perfect but the 2 I have now are not exactly what I want in the back yard. At least they help me make compost really fast.

why not just go with something tried and true, and unique enough to give you superior carcasses?

 

[CircleT]

Question for all of the genetics experts. I would like to start a meat bird project. I currently have 1 Cornish X hen that looks like I am going to be able to get her to actually live to egg laying stage. She appears to be very healthy. Would i get any of her fast growth and large breast genes if I crossed her with a Dark Cornish? I also have Dark Cornish and Buff Orpingtons, hens and roosters of both breeds. I would like to incorporate some of the big legginess from the Orpington, problems is I dont know enough about genetics to know how to cross these three breeds to start my project. Should I put the Cornish over the Orpington or the other way around, and what back crosses should I do. Any advice to get me started would be appreciated....Thank You

 

[ocap]

the CSU thread's section on the Delaware was interesting study on crossing breeds to get a meat bird, (begins post #517)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/732985/csu-chicken-state-university-large-fowl-sop/510