kernel compile e branches

[Gian Paolo Buono]

Hi,
I have upgrade my distro and kernel..with following steps:

1) cd /usr/src ; make update
2) edit /usr/src/sys/i386/conf/GENERIC file for the kernel
3) make buildkernel KERNCONF=GENERIC
4) make installkernel KERNCONF=GENERIC
5) shutdown -r now
6) mergemaster -p
7) make installworld
8) mergemaster -cvsi
9) shutdown -r now

now my kernel is FreeBSD 7.1-PRERELEASE.
For server in produciton which is the branches reccomended ? RELEASE ...
STABLE ...
And where set the branche to use ?

Gian Paolo