Latest News From Beef on Dairy

As long as the beef market is hot, the key for producers will be maintaining the right number of lactating cows going through the parlor and ensuring the right number of replacement heifers can keep that pipeline full.

Liver abscesses remain a singular, dark cloud over the otherwise sunny segment of dairy-beef-cross cattle. Several entities are performing research to try to solve this frustrating industry obstacle.

Lucas Fuess with RaboResearch says we are now in a far different state as producers have kept fewer replacement heifers and the milking herd numbers are the lowest they’ve been in four-plus years.

What’s new and rare for the dairy industry is that we are experiencing nearly a year of weaker global milk supply. What’s not new is that for the seventh consecutive month, milk production has documented a decline.

Comparing a leap year versus a non-leap year in 2023, February milk production was up 2.4%. However, on a per-day basis, production was down 1.1%. Milk cows totaled 9.3 million head, down 89,000 compared to a year ago.

Dairy producers wonder what it will take for the market to turn around, as we wade out of this volatile economy. Phil Plourd shares fluctuating signals that are a telltale sign if milk prices will rebound in 2024.

One thing adversity teaches us is how to persevere. Dig deeper. Plow harder. At least this is what dairy farmer, Todd Benedict, has learned when he faced two nightmare situations—a barn fire and losing his milk market.

Beef-on-dairy numbers in the U.S. will reach up to 5 million head – roughly 15% of the cattle harvested annually – as early as 2026. The sexed-and-beef model of production will play a prominent role in the process.

Higher prices for beef calves are incentivizing dairy producers to breed crossbred bull calves

In South Dakota, you’ll find a 130-year-old dairy operation that runs on passion, perseverance and a focus on finding the right people. This dynamic trifecta is what makes up the unparalleled culture of MoDak Dairy.

As beef-on-dairy animals within the feedlot system continue to rise, feedlots are craving two key pieces of information to help ensure these crossbred cattle thrive.

Michael Dykes, CEO of IDFA shared at the 2024 International Dairy Forum in Phoenix that our industry has a growth mindset The big-ticket question is whether today’s producers can help fill the milk production need.

No matter when beef cross calves are being sold, steps can be taken to make them more marketable.

Bateman’s Mosida Farms in Utah is named the 2024 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year by the IDFA because of their ability to innovate and diversify to better care for their cattle and land.

As milk prices continue to sink lower, more and more dairy producers are turning their attention to creating a healthy beef cross calf to generate additional income for their farms.

The High Plains Dairy Conference will be March 5-6 in Amarillo, Texas. The conference will explore alternative revenue streams, the future of exports and much more.

All leading experts—from economists to cattle marketers, share that those producers with a surplus of heifer replacements are likely to capitalize on a pretty penny in the year ahead.

Dairy replacement heifer trade has been light nationwide. Similarly, global dairy trade has been on the decline. Will the trend continue as we head into 2024?

Minnesota ended 2023 with 146 fewer dairy farm permits than the state did at the beginning of the year. The big-ticket question is with dairy’s razor-thin financial margins, how many more dairies will exit in 2024?

Four grants have been awarded by ICASA totaling roughly $1.15 million to identify why liver abscesses occur and develop diagnostic tools to enable informed decision-making to treat the condition.

Beef cross calves are currently generating healthy profits for dairies. They also are a welcome addition to the beef supply chain, according to Dr. Zeb Gray, Beef Technical Feedlot Specialist with Diamond V.

Farming has run deep in the Moes family roots for the past 130 years. Today, the fourth and fifth generations continue to keep their ancestors’ dreams of farming alive.

Last week, AgriTalk host, Chip Flory, visited with two dairy farmers -- Ken Smith and Darlene Lopes at Milk Business Conference to talk about the challenges that face dairy, as well as what opportunities lie ahead. 

More calves born on dairies than ever before are eventually headed to feedyards these days. Performance and profitability merits sending healthy animals from the calf-rearing stage to the feedlot.

Agility — it can be the difference between those who make it in the dairy industry and those who don’t. Learning to pivot to ­the next stepping stone to success is what leading dairies, like Van Ess Dairy doing well.

Three business-minded dairy leaders will gather together during a Farm Journal Milk Business Quarterly webinar to share advice on how to future-proof your dairy business.

Prices for day-old beef-X-dairy (BXD) calves are often surprisingly high. But what used to be a highly discounted after-thought (straight dairy calves) is rapidly transforming into a meaningful source of production.

A high incidence of liver abscesses continues to plague an ever-growing segment of the fed cattle industry: beef-on-dairy crossbred animals.

Friona Industries, National Cattlemen's Association and Arizona Dairy Company will be on stage at the 2023 Milk Business Conference to offer fresh beef-on-dairy insights and perspectives.

The shortage of beef cows is an area where some dairy farmers are cashing in.

Mike Simone, Executive Director of market Research and Intelligence with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says high beef prices are here to stay for a while for several reasons.

Travel to Carpenter, Wy., and you’ll see two-thirds of the state’s 9,000 dairy cows, who are milked at Burnett Dairy. You’ll also get to see an upcoming second-generation dairy farmer, Reese Burnett.

The Milk Business Conference in Las Vegas Nov. 28-30, highlights every corner of the dairy industry and has a great line-up of speakers to help producers capitalize on and further develop their strengths. Sign up today.

The August Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor asked economists when they think cattle herd expansion will start to take place. The majority think cattle contraction will continue for at least another year. 

Beef-on-dairy is arguably the most significant advancement for America’s beef industry in a generation.

The beef market is sizzling hot and dairy producers have not only noticed but have taken action to capitalize on securing an alternative profit source to their bottom line.

Dairy producers and industry professionals who register before Sept. 30th for the Milk Business Conference will earn a chance to win three concert tickets to see Garth Brooks live in concert at Caesar’s Palace on Dec. 1.

If raising your own beef-on-dairy animals pencils out, it’s important to make sure your facilities can handle the load.

One by one poor-performing cows are exiting herds as lackluster milk price makes it easier for producers to cull cows. The big question remains - have we culled enough cows to boost milk price?

Two producers on the opposite side of the country: Dwayne Faber of Washington and Val Lavigne of New York joined AgriTalk host Chip Flory and spoke about the challenges facing their dairies.

The younger consumers of today may not embrace meat consumption like previous generations, but they are more inclined to seek and pay for high quality. That’s good news for producers selling beef cross calves.

Excessive frame size, dark meat color, narrow loin eyes, lengthy finishing time – these are among the top complaints about feeding Holsteins for beef.

The U.S. bovine semen industry reports a decline of 5% in total unit sales, reaching 69 million total units reported for all categories combined. However, Beef-on-dairy semen sales continue to increase.

With drought and production costs pushing the native beef population to a record low, beef-on-dairy has a huge opportunity to keep the feedlots and processors at full capacity.

With the demand for beef up, more dairy producers are crossbreeding poor genetic or less productive cows with beef semen. Over the past few years, dairy semen sales have idled while domestic beef sales have exploded.

Just because we have easy access to the thousands of beef-on-dairy cross calves eventually headed for feedyards doesn't mean we should be vaccinating them every week, according to Dan Thomson.

While dairy producers are rapidly embracing the concept of using beef semen to freshen their cows, the resulting crossbred calves are proving both a valuable opportunity and a challenge for the U.S. beef industry.

According to a recent article, meat is underpriced—but not in the way producers might hope. There is a "social cost" being ignored, researchers say.

Domestic beef sales have exploded over the past few years, and dairy farmers have started to capitalize on the opportunity be become a bigger part of the beef sector.

Simon Vander Woude has grown his herd in various ways to improve quality and efficiency. With the help of a dialed-in, strategic game plan over the last decade, his herd of Holsteins have seen tremendous growth.