We raise a few beef catlle on 117 acres. Most all are various crosses withe majority having from 1/8 to 5/8 Brahman. The reason for the Brahman influence is that they can stand the summer heat and insects in Louisiana. This calf crop coming off now is Black Angus or Charolais sired. Our most efficent cows believe it or not are 2 Brahman/Texas Longhorn cross. They are tough, not to big, good mothers, and spit out a calf at about 11 month intervals. You can raise cattle big as elephants, but they eat like elephants,and break down at an early age. These little cows raise a decent calf that favors his sire and sells well. As a side note, I once visited a Kansas feedlot that was feeding out Holstein steers. The owner told me they grade 90% choice, just don't convert feed efficiently, therefore they are bought at discount to make up the difference.
