Beef prices have already reached record highs in 2025, and economists predict that the market won’t likely let off the gas pedal throughout the remainder of the year. For dairy producers creating beef-on-dairy calves, this trend remains a welcome site for profit margins – especially as milk futures remain in uncharted territory.
However, as market conditions fluctuate, dairy farmers have reached a crossroad – do they sell these crossbreds as newborns, weaned calves, or raise them all the way to finish? Angela Breneman, Dairy Management Extension Educator at Pennsylvania State University, provides context on which market strategy might work best for your operation.
Selling Newborns
For most dairy producers participating in a beef-on-dairy program, selling crossbred calves as newborns remains the most common marketing strategy. This approach offers a quick return on investment and reduces the labor and resources needed for calf rearing.
By Taylor Leach
February 20, 2025
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