“De-risk Your Operation With Beef-On-Dairy”

The national beef heard is at levels we haven’t seen in over a generation.  And while there is talk about growing the herd, it will take years for those numbers to see a meaningful bump.

In the meantime, dairy operators are trying to meet that domestic and international demand for beef.  Beef-on-dairy has grown in popularity over recent years, to the point where dairy cows make up roughly 15% of the national beef herd.

Genes Are The Key

Laurence Williams, Dairy-Beef Cross Specialist with Purina Animal Nutrition says the cows a little different when they go to the packer since they've been around human their entire lives, meaning slightly different management tactics will be needed.  But, he said the packers want these cows because they grade so well.

“So, the dairy genetics, if you go back to just Holstein genetics when there are a lot of Holsteins in the market, those cattle grade," Williams said.  "So then put the right kind of beef genetics on that dairy cow, and you've got cattle that'll grade. So the packer wants them. Packer also wants us to improve; there's liver abscesses in these cattle at a higher level than native beef, how do we develop them? How do we grow them? How do we improve their health?”

Reducing Risk

That’s where Purina’s annual Beef-On-Dairy Report comes in handy for producers, helping them understand trends and where the sector is going.

Williams added since cattle in general are worth so much money right now, beef-on-dairy is a great revenue stream for any dairy operator.

“So if you want to de-risk your dairy a little bit, invest in good genetics, get them colostrum, do the right thing, and that will help ensure that these cattle do well at harvest, and continue to be an important part of the beef supply," Williams noted.  "So the dairy supply, I guess I would just ask dairymen to recognize the importance of their contribution to the beef supply.”

So, where is beef-on-dairy going into the future, and what role does calf nutrition play when it comes to best positioning these animals for the packers?  Find out by listening to our entire conversation with Williams:

Click Here to read Purina’s annual Beef-On-Dairy report.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com