03/19/08 Dairy producers are beef producers too

Dairy producers are a huge part of the beef industry in this country. SENN "And that we make up 20 percent or a little over 20 percent of the beef checkoff and so we really need to get the word out there to dairy producers that we are a very big and valued part of the beef industry." That is Cattlemen's Beef Board member Jenny Senn, a South Carolina dairy owner who chaired the recent Dairy Producer Communication Forum in Reno. Senn says consumers may be misinformed about the meat in the grocery store regarding whether it's from a beef animal or a dairy animal. SENN "You have a misconception that most dairy cows are ground beef. Absolutely not the case. A lot of tender cuts and a lot of the restaurant steaks come from dairy cows and we're a very, very important part." Senn says certain beef checkoff program areas are of great interest to dairy operators and their potential income. SENN "If we could just change a few things with how dairy handles their animals, cut down of a few of the lesions and what not that could put quite a bit of money back into our pockets." Senn says checkoff dollars help continue research, promotion and communication. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott