Beef-on-Dairy Cattle Gain Ground in U.S. Feedlots
With the U.S. beef herd historically small, another source of cattle is becoming a much bigger part of the beef supply.
A new Market Intel report from the American Farm Bureau Federation looks at the growing role of beef-on-dairy cattle. Dairy farmers are increasingly using sexed semen to produce the dairy replacements they need, while breeding other cows to beef genetics. The result is calves with greater market potential than traditional dairy calves.
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.
New research cited by Farm Bureau shows one notable difference in how those cattle perform, particularly at lighter placement weights.
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, while converting feed at a similar rate. That performance advantage declined as placement weights increased.
For more, visit https://www.fb.org/intel/markets/capturing-the-feedlot-value-of-beef-on-dairy-cattle
