Beef-on-dairy calves a practical alternative for stocker programs
- ZISK
- Sep 19
- 1 min read
Calf supplies are expected to be tight this fall. The U.S. beef cow herd is the smallest since the early 1960s, and calf crops continue to shrink. Stocker operators will need to look for alternative sources of grazing cattle.
One option is beef-on-dairy crosses. Each year, U.S. dairies produce more than 4 million calves for beef production, and a growing share are dairy cows bred to beef sires. These crossbreds typically outperform straight dairy calves in growth, feed efficiency and carcass value.
By Paul Beck, Extension beef cattle nutrition specialist
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