The number of dairy-beef cattle on the market is growing. Researchers at Oklahoma State University Extension (OSU) are watching closely, finding that 100 percent dairy steers are not holding a lot of value.
“A 100-percent dairy steer is very low in value, so the dairies have treated those like they’re a byproduct or just a kind of a waste,” said OSU Nutrition Specialist Paul Beck. “There has been a change in some reproductive technologies that our dairies are taking advantage of where they can use sex semen to produce heifer calves out of only their best cows to make their replacements. Then they’re opened up to the freedom of using a beef-type bull on their other mediocre cows because they need a pregnancy just to restart lactation.”
According to Beck, these beef-dairy hybrid cattle are grabbing the attention of livestock producers, and the industry is taking an interest.
“That has given us a large availability of some beef-dairy crosses that are very superior to a 100 percent dairy animal in beef production performance efficiency,” Beck said. “And they’re keeping a lot of the high-quality meat characteristics that we would see with a dairy calf. So, the industry is very interested in the right management of these cattle and how to best utilize those in beef production systems.”
Finding the best way to use beef-dairy crosses is still something OSU Extension researchers are still exploring.
“At Oklahoma State, we’ve been doing some research with some beef on dairy crosses, looking at how to incorporate those into the finishing period,” Beck said. “Whether we go to finish directly on feed and take them as a 200- or 300-pound animal all the way to slaughter, or if we look at him as a stalker animal and put them out on grass—get them a little bit bigger, a little bit more mature, more used to being in a beef animal—and then getting them on feed as a larger feeder-sized calf.”
Strong yields and higher cattle prices helped stabilize conditions, but weak crop prices and rising carryover debt remain major challenges for Eleventh District farmers.
November 25, 2025 02:55 PM
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Jake Charleston, with Specialty Risk Insurance, joins us now for an industry update and advice for cattle producers as they consider options for managing the risks of a murky market.
November 25, 2025 01:26 PM
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The National Milk Producers Federation will launch a new advocacy campaign to secure a final vote, urging House lawmakers to approve the bill as soon as they return from the Thanksgiving recess.
November 25, 2025 01:09 PM
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Tyson’s Nebraska plant closure and falling Cattle on Feed numbers send cattle markets tumbling. Analysts warn of tighter supplies, weak margins, and rising global competition.
November 25, 2025 12:05 PM
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One trader said the products entering the U.S. are primarily grind and trim, noting that the volume and type of beef, on its own, should not cause a major disruption. However, he says fund traders are reacting heavily to headlines rather than market realities.
November 24, 2025 02:42 PM
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Farmers with unpaid Hansen-Mueller grain should verify delivery records immediately and file indemnity claims quickly, as coverage rules differ sharply by state.
November 24, 2025 02:32 PM
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According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
November 24, 2025 11:47 AM
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Tyson’s closure reflects deep supply shortages in the U.S. cattle industry, tightening packing capacity, weakening competition, and signaling more volatility ahead for cow-calf producers and feedyards.
November 21, 2025 07:02 PM
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Screwworm.gov has targeted resources for a wide range of stakeholders, including livestock producers, veterinarians, animal health officials, wildlife professionals, healthcare providers, pet owners, researchers, drug manufacturers, and the general public.
November 21, 2025 02:09 PM
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