Board Invited Review: Crossbreeding beef × dairy cattle for the modern beef production system

Genetic and reproductive advancements in the dairy industry, volatile milk markets, and beef packer restrictions on dairy carcasses have increased the popularity of crossbreeding beef breed sires with dairy cows in the U.S. This observational study aimed to understand performance in dairy cows bred to beef sires and feedlot and carcass performance of crossbred beef × dairy calves. For dairy cow performance, archived records from 2 dairies representing 2 successive lactations were evaluated in paired cows (Dairy A: n=72/group; Dairy B: n=456/group) representing either: 1) All Dairy, where previous sire type of conception was Holstein for both lactations, or 2) Beef on Dairy, where previous sire type of conception was Holstein for the preceding lactation and a beef breed for the subsequent lactation. For feedlot performance, closeout data from paired pens (n=26/cattle type) of beef and beef × dairy calves were evaluated and numerically compared to pens (n=5) of Holstein steers. For carcass analysis, individual data were compared between carcasses from conventional beef (n=966), beef × dairy (n=518), and Holstein (n=935) steers. Cow performance was minimally impacted by sire type of previous conception. Cows conceived to beef sires exhibited a 2 to 3 d greater (P<0.01) gestation time than cows conceived to Holstein sires. Feedlot growth performance of beef × dairy pens was intermediate to beef pens (P<0.01) and Holstein steers. Beef × dairy pens had lesser (P≤0.02) feed conversion and dressing percent than beef pens. Both feedlot closeouts and carcass data showed that beef × dairy calves produced a greater (P<0.05) percent Yield Grade 2 carcasses and a lower (P<0.05) percent Yield Grade 4 carcasses than beef calves. Beef × dairy carcasses exhibited less (P<0.05) fat than beef steers and larger (P<0.05) ribeyes than Holsteins. Carcass cutability advantages for beef × dairy did not come at a sacrifice to carcass quality, as beef × dairy steers generated a greater (P<0.05) percent Upper 2/3 Choice and Low Choice carcasses and a lower (P<0.05) percent Select carcasses than beef steers. Thus, the U.S. beef and dairy industries alike should encourage production of terminal beef × dairy calves rather than continued inefficient production of Holstein steers. Efficiency savings in producing beef × dairy calves make it a more environmentally conscious and sustainable production practice than production of traditional dairy calves for the beef supply chain.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Crossbreeding beef sires to dairy cows: cow, feedlot, and carcass performance

Foraker

Ballou

Woerner

2022

“…However, this study was conducted in a forage-finishing system and the majority of cattle in the United States are finished on grain-based diets because grain-finishing systems have long been reported to improve feed conversion relative to fiber or forage-based systems. Basiel and Felix (2022) summarized finishing systems for beef × dairy crosses and concluded that while beef × dairy cattle often gained more body weight, spent fewer days on feed, and were more feed efficient than dairy cattle finished on forage, they were less feed efficient than native beef cattle breeds. However, these authors reported the older nature of many of the studies they reviewed, and efficiency of finishing systems may warrant revisiting these results.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survey of the use of beef semen in dairy herds in Pennsylvania and nearby states

Felix

Emenheiser

Govoni

et al. 2023

Self Cite

Because dairies across the U.S. have rapidly adopted breeding to beef breed sires, the use of beef semen has increased dramatically in recent years. The objective of this survey was to gather information about the use of beef semen by dairy producers in the Northeast United States to generate beef × dairy cattle for beef markets. The survey was conducted using the services of the Center for Survey Research at the Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg campus. Respondents had two options for returning their responses: 1) mail the paper survey to CSR in the postage-paid business-reply envelope included in the mailing, or 2) complete the survey online via an open-access web survey link. A total of 669 surveys were received and a final number of 617 surveys were included in the responses based on completeness and validity of the responses. Because of the broad electronic distribution, a true response rate cannot be calculated. Of these, 463 (75.0%) were completed via returned paper survey, and 154 (25.0%) were completed via web, between November 9, 2021 and February 16, 2022. Of the 617 respondents, 539 were from Pennsylvania. Due to the large variations in returned survey copies by state, results are reported without state separation. Across all respondents, 69.7% reported milking 100 or fewer cows and over 90% of collected responses reported Holsteins as the predominant dairy breed in the Northeast. Only 18.8% of the respondents did not currently, nor plan to, breed with beef semen. Deciding which beef bulls to use on Northeast dairy farms was primarily based on the recommendation of the semen sales representative (54.5%) and the price of the semen purchased (42.3%). In addition, 89.7% of respondents cited using Angus genetics in their beef bull selections. However, there was no difference in reported profitability of crossbreeding between respondents who indicated using other beef breeds versus those who indicated just using Angus (P ≥ 0.19). In conclusion, using beef sires on dairy females, regardless of the breed of beef sire, adds value to the resulting progeny from dairy farms in the Northeast.

“…The increase in beef semen sales has been largely attributed to the dairy industry because over 90% of beef females in the United States are mated exclusively by natural service ( USDA, 2020 ). The primary impetus for these mating decisions is to increase the value of surplus calves coming off the dairy farm ( Basiel and Felix, 2022 ). The value of beef × dairy calves exceeds that of purebred dairy bull calves ( McCabe et al., 2022 ), in some instances by several hundred dollars.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of sire breed on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of beef × Holstein steers

Basiel,

Campbell,

Dechow

et al. 2024

Self Cite

Dairy herds are mating a portion of cows to beef cattle semen to create a value-added calf. Objectives of this study were to compare the feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of beef × Holstein steers by breed when sires represented bulls with commercially available semen. Three groups of single-born, male calves (n = 262) born to Holstein dams on 10 Pennsylvania dairies were sourced during 3 years. Steers were sired by 7 beef breeds: Angus, Charolais, Limousin, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, and Wagyu. Steers were picked up within a week of age and raised at 2 pre-weaned calf facilities until weaning (8 ± 1 weeks of age) under similar health and management protocols. Steers were then transported to a commercial calf growing facility where they were managed as a single group until 10 ± 2 months of age when they were moved to be finished at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Livestock Evaluation Center feedlot. Groups of steers were selected for slaughter based on body weight and visual appraisal of finish. Carcass characteristics were evaluated by trained personnel and a three-rib section of the longissimus muscle (LM) was collected from each carcass for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) evaluation and intramuscular fat determination. Steers sired by all sire breeds except for Limousin had greater average daily gain (1.62 to 1.76 kg/day) than Wagyu × Holstein steers (1.39 kg/day; P < 0.05). Angus-sired steers had an 8.6% greater ADG than Red Angus-sired steers (P < 0.05). Angus, Charolais (1.73 kg/day), and Simmental-sired steers (1.68 kg/day) also had greater ADG than Limousin-sired steers (1.55 kg/day; P < 0.05). Wagyu × Holstein steers spent 5 to 26 more days on feed (P < 0.05) than Limousin × Holstein, Simmental × Holstein, Angus × Holstein, and Charolais × Holstein steers. Angus and Charolais-sired steers were also on feed for 19 and 21 days fewer, respectively, than Limousin-sired steers (P < 0.05). Red Angus-sired steers had greater marbling scores than Simmental and Limousin-sired steers and Angus and Charolais-sired steers had greater marbling scores than Limousin-sired steers (P < 0.05). Angus, Limousin, and Hereford-sired steers produced the most tender LM as evaluated by WBSF; Angus-sired carcasses (3.82 kg) were more tender than Charolais (4.30 kg) and Simmental-sired carcasses (4.51 kg; P < 0.05). Limousin and Hereford-sired steers (3.70 kg, 3.83 kg, respectively) also had more tender steaks than Simmental-sired steers.