Beef cattle are generally divided into two different groups: maternal breeds vs. terminal breeds. Generally, maternal breeds are known for their milk production and mothering ability while terminal breeds are known for their growth and meat producing ability.
As with anything in life, there are some exceptions to this rule. Some breeds are also known as dual purpose breeds because they combine muscling for meat production with excellent maternal characteristics. For more information on breeds of beef cattle, visit the Oklahoma State Beef Breeds Directory. Crossbreeding can help you to combine the best attributes of individual breeds into one package. Choose traits that are important to you and then seek a breed or a crossbred that exhibits those traits.