98 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN February 2026 the number of heifer pregnancies by one to two pregnancies. This means one to two more calves per year simply on the basis of using crossbred heifers vs. the average purebred heifer. In addition, our prior work has shown that these crossbred heifers will be more productive, efficient cows and raise heavier calves across the course of their life. The calves will also be crossbred themselves and will express the advantages of heterosis in their growth, size and finishing abilities. The advantages of heterosis are numerous but extremely challenging to quantify. The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center hosts one of, if not the only, beef herd in the world capable of doing so across the range of breeds and traits important to Nebraska USMARC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 96 and U.S. beef producers. We work hard to leverage this unique resource to answer challenging questions and provide valuable, applicable information to our stakeholders. As we continue our investigation into heifer pregnancy, we will also be evaluating differences between breeds and digging deeper into indicators of heifer age at puberty and potential for reproductive longevity. Early analyses suggest that there is significant variation between the 18 breeds, so stay tuned for these forthcoming results. Heterosis is a clear benefit of crossbreeding, improving productivity and potential for profitability for commercial beef producers. By providing science-backed evidence of these benefits, we hope to empower U.S. beef producers to make more informed decisions for their operations. ~NC~ Editor’s Note: Questions may be directed to Bailey Engle, Ph.D., bailey.engle@usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Crossbreeding provides multiple advantages for improving cattle performance, and one of the biggest advantages comes in the form of heterosis. www.jamisonranch.com See VIDEOS of the sale bulls on our website in early February. L1 HEREFORD BULL SALE & Friends FRI., FEB. 27, 2026 12 NOON (CST) • At the Ranch 2271 County Rd. 74 • Quinter, KS 67752 100 BULLS SELL 18-MONTH-OLD & TWO-YEAR-OLD BULLS PLUS30 JA INFLUENCED COMMERCIAL HEREFORD HEIFERS FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: COLEMAN HEREFORDS Ken & Suzanne Coleman 719/783-9324 (h) • 719/276-4471 (c) JAMISON HEREFORDS Aden Glaze: 785/475-4125 Gerald High: 717/821-0324 Gordon Jamison: 785/299-0441 Merle High: 717/821-0309 B&B CATTLE CO. Lee Butler: 620/678-3886 Braxton Butler: 620/437-6637
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