Objective This crossbreeding test was conducted to evaluate the effects of Red Angus crossbreeding on growth and slaughter performance of Dabieshan cattle and characterize the resulting heterosis, aiming to provide theoretical basis and practical support for germplasm optimization and new beef strain breeding. Method In this study, Red Angus cattle were used as male parent and Dabieshan cattle were used as female parent to carry out progressive hybridization test. Thirty Dabieshan cattle (D), hybrid F1 generation (F1) and hybrid F2 generation (F2) were selected to systematically determine their growth performance and slaughter performance indexes, so as to promote the breeding of new strains for meat. Result The results showed that the body weight and body size of F1 were significantly superior to those of purebred D at all monthly ages (P<0.05). Among them, the body weight, body length, body height, chest girth and cannon circumference of male and female F1 calves at the birth stage were 27.5 kg, 69.1 cm, 70.2 cm, 71.3 cm, 12.8 cm and 24.6 kg, 70.0 cm, 67.4 cm, 70.4 cm, 12.3 cm respectively. All indicators were significantly higher than those of male and female D (P<0.05). The 24-month-old body weight of F1 bulls and cows were 526.7 and 448.4 kg, which were significantly increased by 67.5% and 53.3% compared with D, respectively (P<0.05). Those of F2 bulls and cows reached 564.6 and 462.2 kg, representing increases of 79.6% and 58.1% relative to D (P<0.05). The body length, body height, chest girth and cannon circumference of F2 bulls were 134.7, 124.3, 176.2 and 20.3 cm, respectively, all significantly higher than those of D (P<0.05). For F2 cows, the corresponding values were 128.8, 120.7, 169.2 and 18.9 cm, respectively, which were also significantly greater than those of D (P<0.05). In terms of slaughter performance after fattening, the pre-slaughter live weight and net meat percentage of F2 reached 604.3 kg and 41.66%, which were 105.8 kg and 1.34 percentage points greater than those of purebred D, respectively. The net meat weight of F2 was 251.7 kg, which was significantly greater than that of D and F1 (P<0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, Red Angus cattle had a significant crossbreeding improvement effect on Dabieshan cattle, and F2 exhibited the optimal comprehensive performance.