By Andi Anderson
What began as an experiment less than a decade ago has now become a standard in the U.S. cattle industry. All signs indicate that the beef-dairy crossbred animal is here to stay. Recognizing the unique characteristics and production channels of these calves, researchers at Iowa State University conducted a survey of producers involved in their rearing.
Funded by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Beef Checkoff, the study aimed to:
Learn about management practices employed by dairy producers and calf ranches who raise beef-cross calves.
Understand challenges related to finishing beef-cross calves from the perspective of commercial feedlot operators.
On the calf-rearing side, responses were submitted by 11 producers who raise more than 21,000 dairy or beef-cross calves annually. Five were current dairy producers, while the rest were specialized calf raisers.
All but one of the calf raisers had ongoing knowledge of colostrum feeding and routinely tested incoming calves for passive transfer of immunity. The single producer without confirmed colostrum status purchased calves from auctions.
Calf raisers indicated a need for additional research on reducing liver abscesses, sire genetics and selection, starting calves to prevent sickness, weather impact on starting calves, nutrition plans, improving carcass cutout, impact of stress events, and prevention and treatment of mycoplasma.
On the feedlot side, 21 cattle feeders replied, most with experience raising full-blood beef, dairy, and beef-cross calves. A key finding was the disparity in size between animals entering the feedlot stage. Beef calves entered the feeding stage at an average weight of 613 pounds, compared to an average in-weight of 372 pounds for beef-cross calves.
Feeders reported superior carcass performance of beef-cross calves, with an average of 13% grading Prime, compared to an industry average of 7.54% from the National Beef Quality Audit. 22% of beef-cross calves produced Yield Grade 1, versus a 6.77% national average.
The ISU researchers noted a wide variation in implant strategies for beef-cross calves, suggesting the need for fine-tuning.
They emphasized the need for different implant protocols for beef-dairy crossbreds compared to beef cattle due to differences in days on feed, marbling genetic merit, and traditional muscle size and shape.
Feeders also expressed a desire for improved education regarding beef semen selection, particularly in choosing sires that promote feedlot performance and high-quality carcass finish.
The researchers highlighted the need for additional research to select ideal beef bulls based on growth, performance, and carcass merit without compromising calving ease.
Photo Credit: istock-simplycreativephotography
Categories: Iowa, Livestock, Dairy Cattle