Post-weaning management of modern dairy cattle genetics for beef production: a review

Abstract

The contribution of dairy steers to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased from 6.9% to 16.3% over the last two decades; in part, due to declining beef cow numbers and the increased use of sexed dairy semen to produce genetically superior replacement heifers from the best dairy cows. Raising dairy cattle for beef production offers unique opportunities and challenges when compared with feeding cattle from beef breeds. Dairy steers offer predictable and uniform finishing cattle performance (ADG, DMI, G:F) as a group and more desirable quality grades on average compared with their beef steer counterparts. However, dairy steers have lesser dressing percentages and yield 2%–12% less red meat compared with beef steers due to a greater ratio of bone to muscle, internal fat, organ size, and gastrointestinal tract weight. In addition, carcasses from dairy steers can present problems in the beef packing industry, with Holstein carcasses being longer and Jersey carcasses being lighter weight than carcasses from beef breeds. Beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies are being implemented on some dairy farms to increase the income generated from dairy bull calves, while beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies can also improve the G:F and red meat yield of beef produced from the U.S. dairy herd. This alternative model of beef production from the dairy herd is not without its challenges and has resulted in variable results thus far. Successful adoption of beef × dairy crossbreeding in the cattle industry will depend on the proper selection of beef sires that excel in calving ease, growth, muscling, and marbling traits to complement the dairy genetics involved in beef production.

Response to ad libitum milk allowance by crossbred dairy and dairy–beef calves in an automated feeding system

“…The Limousin crossbred calves had lower milk consumption (439.3 ± 17.8 L for heifers and 446.3 ± 17.9 L for bulls) compared to the other breed groups. Notably, the Limousin crossbred calves had the lowest milk consumption while having similar weaning weight and ADG compared to the other breed groups, which may be an indicator of heterosis for feed efficiency of beef and dairy crossbreds ( Basiel and Felix, 2022 ; Jaborek et al, 2023 ). Similar to the current study, Vestergaard et al, (2019) reported that ADG was similar for Limousine crossbred heifer and bulls compared to HO bull calves.…”

Učinkovitost sustava automatske detekcije tjeranja u junica smeđeg goveda kada se rabi seksirano sjeme na velikoj farmi mliječnih goveda

“…This prob- lem is inherent not only for the domestic livestock industry. For example, the contribution of dairy steers to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased from 6.9% to 16.3% over the last two decades (Jaborek et al, 2023). The production of beef from a dairy herd is not without its challenges (for example, dairy steers have a lower dressing percentage and yield less red meat, and present problems in the beef packing industry).…”

Beef embryos in dairy cows: calfhood growth of Angus-sired calves from Holstein, Jersey, and crossbred beef dams

“…However, recent advances in genomic technologies ( Crowe et al, 2021 ), reproductive efficiency ( Cardoso Consentini et al, 2021 ), and sex-selected semen ( Hutchison et al, 2016 ) have enabled more precise dairy replacement heifer production and widespread use of beef semen on commercial dairies ( McWhorter et al, 2020 ). Recent reviews by Berry (2021) , Crowe et al (2021) , Basiel and Felix (2022) , Foraker et al (2022) , Poock and Beckett (2022) , and Jaborek et al (2023) emphasize academic interest in beef × dairy crossbred calves. Similarly, selection indexes aimed at optimizing beef semen used in dairy herds by American Simmental Association and American Angus Association summarize interest of the beef industry in the concept of beef × dairy crossbreeding.…”