The beef-on-dairy sector is booming – and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. What started as a trend more than a decade ago has quickly grown into a steady and reliable profit stream for dairy farmers across the country. Just ask Ted and Megan McAllister, part owners of McAllister Family Dairy, LLC., in New Vienna, Iowa.
Roughly six years ago, Ted and his brother, Rob, who co-owns the operation, decided to make a strategic investment in their herd’s reproductive program. Before this shift, the operation still relied heavily on herd bulls. Today, the farm utilizes 100% artificial insemination and has implemented genomic testing and Allflex activity monitors onto their 280-head herd of Holsteins and Jerseys. This significant shift in their breeding approach not only elevated their herd’s genetic potential, but also opened the door to using beef semen on some of their lower-performing cows.
Betting on Beef-on-Dairy
With dairy bull calves fetching too little money to justify raising them, the McAllister’s saw using beef semen as a logical step to improve their operation’s profitability. By incorporating beef genetics, they could enhance the value of their bull calves, tapping into a more profitable beef market.
Taylor Leach
November 19, 2024 09:00 AM
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