96 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2026 A family owned and operated Commercial Feedlot located in the heart of Nebraska’s Corn Production. OUR ATTENTION TO DETAIL MAXIMIZES YOUR PROFIT POTENTIAL! DFI also offers: Risk Management • Partnership Feeding Multiple Marketing Options Retained Ownership • Feeder Financing Private Consulting Nutritionist Private Consulting Veterinarian Location Close to All Major Packers Permanent Shades in Pens Two Locations: Columbus & Palmer • 13,500 head capacity Mike Drinnin, Owner/Manager • miked@drinninfeedlots.com Office: (402) 564-7409 • sharib@drinninfeedlots.com drinninfeedlots.com Jarad Drinnin - Columbus Cell: (402) 910-6508 Sam Drinnin - Palmer Cell: (402) 910-0233 PEERS EVALUATING HYBRID VIGOR PRACTICAL IMPACTS ON HEIFER FERTILITY BAILEY ENGLE, PH.D., WARREN SNELLING, PH.D., MARK THALLMAN, PH.D., LARRY KUEHN, PH.D. | U.S. MEAT ANIMAL RESEARCH CENTER Crossbreeding provides multiple advantages for improving cattle performance, and one of the biggest advantages comes in the form of heterosis. Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, is the increase in productivity resulting from crossbreeding and is known to impact many economically relevant traits. From prior research in a wide range of species, the biggest advantages of heterosis are expected for lowly heritable, hard-to-improve traits such as health, fitness and fertility. For decades the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) has conducted research that provides estimates of heterosis for a multitude of cattle production traits. By understanding the potential benefits of heterosis and crossbreeding, these research findings may be used by cattle producers to inform and improve their own breeding and selection programs. Recently, we have turned our attention toward understanding the impacts of crossbreeding on heifer fertility and productivity. Using data collected over 18 years from the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) herd at USMARC, we set out to estimate the effect of heterosis on heifer pregnancy rate. The GPE cow herd is comprised of purebred and crossbred cattle representing 18 highly utilized U.S. beef breeds. By managing our purebred and crossbred cattle together in the same pastures and herds, we can accurately compare the productivity differences resulting from crossbreeding. Heifer pregnancy records from more than 9,000 head were analyzed. In our management system, heifers are typically 14 months old at the start of their first breeding season. We use a combination of artificial insemination, natural-service clean-up bulls and full-season natural service, with an average pregnancy rate of 85 percent. Heifer pregnancy status is determined using ultrasound 100 days after the start of the breeding season. Using these records, in combination with information about management groups, heifer age at breeding and breed composition, we were able to estimate the impact of heterosis on heifer pregnancy rate. We found that, in comparison to purebred contemporaries, F1 heifers have a 63 percent increase in their probability for successful heifer pregnancy. Backcross heifers, or heifers whose genetics are 3/4 from one breed and 1/4 from a second breed, have a 57 percent increased probability for successful heifer pregnancy. Another way to consider this is that if a purebred herd had a heifer pregnancy rate of 89 percent, due to heterosis, the crossbred herd would have a heifer pregnancy rate of 93 percent. Regardless of the cross, the potential for improved fertility is significant! Let’s translate this into some real-world numbers. The average Nebraska beef cow herd is about 150 head, and with a 20 percent replacement rate, the average number of replacements is 30 heifers. In this 30-head scenario, simply using crossbred heifers would increase CONTINUED ON PAGE 98
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