Beef-on-Dairy Calves Reshape the Industry: Purina Report
- ZISK
- Dec 9, 2025
- 1 min read
An estimated 12-15% or more of the annual fed beef harvest in the U.S. is now made up of beef-on-dairy calves. To highlight this ever-evolving segment of the U.S. cattle industry, Purina Animal Nutrition, in collaboration with industry partners, has published the Second Edition of its “Beef-on-Dairy Industry Report.”
In terms of sheer numbers, the beef-cross calf market share may be nearing maturity, according to Patrick Linnell, Director of Market Research for CattleFax. In the report, Linnell said many dairies, motivated by high calf values, have actually over-bred for beef-cross calves, “prioritizing beef genetics at the expense of maintaining a healthy pipeline of replacements.”
Linnell said a shift in breeding priorities to shore up replacement heifer supplies resulted in an approximate drop of 5% in beef-on-dairy matings in 2024, signaling a stemming of the supply of beef-cross calves going forward.
By Maureen Hanson
Updated December 04, 2025 08:06 AM
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