I try to use British or British cross females that have had at least two calves and have some milk behind them. There is nothing worse than going to all the work of getting an ET calf born then having it survive by stealing from other cows in the herd. I think too much milk is also not good, especially if you are trying to implant an embryos in them while they are raising a calf. We use mostly Shorthorn and Angus X Shorthorn recips however I did have excellent luck with a set of Polled HerefordX Holstien heifers a few years back. I was able to buy them at the auction market for considerably less than straight beef heifers. They grew well,. and had perfect udders with plenty of milk.
We don't have access to many Brahman cross females up here but I would think they would be excellent providing they have decent temperaments. I won't use a recip of any breed that has a bad attitude. They require more handling than most cows in your herd so bad temperaments are not worth the bother. The ET calf also picks up at least a portiion of the temperament of the cow. If the recip is completely bonkers, there is a very good chance that calf will be the same. I remember a few years ago, a guy I know had a set of embryos implanted in Brahman cross recips at a southern ET center. The cows were nuts and even though he weaned the calves early he was never able to halter break any of the calves, and they were some higher dollar genetics. This may be the exception rather than the rule, but it something to watch.
