The Balancing Act Behind Beef-on-Dairy Carcass Size
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The beef industry continues pushing cattle to heavier weights, and according to Warren Rusche, extension beef feedlot specialist at South Dakota State University, the reason comes down to economics.
During a Beef-on-Dairy Dialogue webinar presented by I-29 Moo University, Rusche explained that feedyards are adding more pounds because it is one of the few ways to stay profitable with today’s historically high feeder cattle prices. Using USDA data dating back to the 1960s, he pointed out that average carcass weights have increased by roughly 4.5 lbs. per year.
“This is maybe as consistent of a trend in the beef business as any,” he says. “We have continuously increased the size of the carcasses that we’re selling.”
By Taylor Leach
May 29, 2026 11:00 AM
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