Dairy Genetics Meet Beef Demand
California’s dairy herd could play an increasingly important role in filling a gap in the nation’s beef supply.
A new Market Intel report from the American Farm Bureau Federation looks at the growing value of beef-on-dairy cattle, meaning dairy cows bred to beef genetics.
More than 72 percent of U.S. dairy farms now use beef-on-dairy breeding, and those cattle account for more than 20 percent of animals entering U.S. feedlots.
That matters as the traditional beef herd remains historically small.
New research cited by Farm Bureau also suggests how those cattle are managed can make a difference. At a 400-pound feedlot placement weight, beef-on-dairy cattle gained about seven-tenths of a pound more per day than traditional beef cattle, with similar feed conversion. That advantage declined as placement weights increased.
Farm Bureau says earlier placement could help feedlots capture more of that efficient growth while supporting demand and value for beef-on-dairy calves.
For more on the research, visit https://www.fb.org/intel/markets/capturing-the-feedlot-value-of-beef-on-dairy-cattle
