Nearly 1 in 4 Feedyard Cattle Are Beef-on-Dairy Crosses
5 hours ago
1 min read
Beef-on-dairy cattle have become a much larger part of the U.S. beef supply chain over the past decade, growing from an estimated 13% of feedyard placements in 2016 to nearly 26% in 2025.
What started as a way to take advantage of a tight beef supply has grown into a substantial part of the industry. Higher calf prices, more investment in raising calves and stronger connections between dairies, feedyards and processors have helped fuel that growth.
Yet gaps in market reporting make it difficult to measure the full impact on beef production and determine whether dairy producers are receiving the best value from their breeding and marketing decisions.
By Taylor Leach
November 03, 2026 01:38 PM
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