Beef Teaching Center

ISU Breeding Herd

At the Beef Teaching Center we have 2 purebred herds and a crossbred herd.  Angus and Simmental cows are calved each spring beginning in early March.  The crossbreds are fall calvers and begin calving in mid August.  Breeding goals were established in the mid 80's for the purebred herd.  These goals remain an important part of the decision process today.

Goals

Angus Breeding Goals
    1.    Maximum performance with acceptable birth weights.
    2.    Productive functional cattle that are structurally sound.
    3.    Adequate frame size.
    4.    Genetic predictability.

Simmental Breeding Goals
  1.    Maximum performance with moderate birth weights.
    2.    Ability to function in a rotational crossbreeding system.
    3.    Moderate frame size.
    4.    Genetic predictability.