The U.S. beef cattle herd is the smallest it has been in 64 years, and there’s little indication that rebuilding will happen anytime soon. Persistent drought and strong cattle prices have discouraged beef producers from retaining heifers, further tightening supply. As a result, the beef industry has increasingly turned to dairy farmers to produce beef-on-dairy crossbreds to help meet growing demand.
Beef-on-Dairy’s Growing Role in the Industry
During the 2024 MILK Business Conference, Dale Woerner of Texas Tech University highlighted the impact beef-on-dairy has had on the industry.
“Ultimately, these crossbred animals have improved the conventional straight Holstein steer so much, and they’ve offered more volume and a really high-quality product into the beef industry,” he said. “With low native cattle numbers, the industry has to have these cattle. Not only do they have to have them, but they have to have them grade prime or choice.”
Taylor Leach
February 05, 2025 10:04 AM
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