Beef-On-Dairy Not A Niche In Idaho

Beef-On-Dairy; it’s a term that has become more popular in livestock circles in recent years.

But, don’t call in a growing niche in Idaho.

Rick Naerebout, CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, notes Beef-on-Dairy is “very mainstream” and it's unusual to talk to a dairy producer that is not implementing the program in their herd.  And, he noted, it all starts with strong genetics.

"[We take] the youngest generation, we're breeding them with sex semen to make sure that we get heifer dairy calves out of that youngest generation that have the best genetics," Naerebout said.  "And we breed enough of those animals to get the replacements we need to maintain herd size or if we're in growth mode to grow, the growth rate that we want to grow. Everything else we're breeding to a beef sire and getting that crossbred beef calf to go into the beef supply chain.”

Naerebout pointed out producers implementing Beef-on-Dairy are not adding additional animals to the beef supply chain.

“We've always supplied bull calves that went into the beef supply chain," Naerebout said.  "What we are doing is providing animals that are genetically superior to be able to finish out better and give consumers a better cut of beef. And so that's where you're seeing all this interest is, we're able to give, the feed lots a much better beef animal to raise and finish out that is going to be a better product that they can sell into the marketplace.”

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com