WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Beef-on-dairy cattle are becoming an increasingly important part of the U.S. beef supply as the traditional beef herd remains historically small and feeder cattle supplies stay tight.
New research using Kansas commercial feedlot data, highlighted by American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economists Daniel Munch and Cydney Stables, found that placement weight plays a major role in how beef-on-dairy cattle perform in feedlots.
At a 400-pound placement weight, beef-on-dairy cattle gained about 0.70 pounds more per day than traditional beef cattle while converting feed at a similar rate. The research also found lower mortality across placement weights ranging from 400 to 900 pounds, although that advantage narrowed as cattle entered at heavier weights.
Earlier placements could allow feedlots to capture more of that efficient early growth, but would require greater coordination between dairy farms and other operations handling the cattle before they reach the feedlot.
With more than 72 percent of dairy farms incorporating beef-on-dairy breeding, the research could also help producers understand how management decisions affect downstream demand and the value of crossbred calves.
