using NZ / CAL cross as a meat doe

[HANSON301]

I have a litter of NZ / CAL crosses. The buck was a white NZ the doe a CAL.
i was thinking of keeping a doe from the litter and breeding it to a CAL buck.
will this work?
What if I kept a buck from that litter and crossed back to a NZ?
Basically, can I use the crosses as breeding stock?

 

[Wheels]

I'm not sure why you couldn't - I have a NZ / CAL doe that I breed to her father a NZW and she always has nice sized litters that she cares for very well. The offspring grow at a decent rate and are usually 4-5ish pounds by 10 weeks.

 

[HANSON301]

I didn't think there would be a problem, i just was reading somewhere else that their cross didn't mother well, but i am guessing that was a specific instance and not what to expect for all NZ/CAL crosses.

 

[grumpy]

I always "prefer" the mother to be purebred. Why? Just my way of doing
things. LOL. But, if it's strictly for market or family freezer, and as long as
they are good producers, it doesn't really make a difference.

That being said, I've got one buck "Moe" who's a 50/50 Cal/NZW cross that
I've been using for market fryers the past two years. I always cross him onto
purebred NZW does. And I get some dynamite fryer stock with this cross.
The fryers are more compact and truly surprise me when they go onto the
scale. They always weigh more than I would think they do. As a matter of
fact, I've got about 25-30 headed to market tomorrow morning. Most all are
the crosses and they really look slick and shiny. I'll weigh them this evening.

Grumpy.