233 Feeding and Managing Dairy Cattle Genetics for Beef

The contribution of dairy steers to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased over the last 2 decades. In part, due to declining beef cow numbers and increased use of sexed dairy semen to produce genetically superior replacement heifers from the best dairy cows in the herd. Raising dairy cattle for beef production offers unique opportunities and challenges when compared with feeding native beef cattle. Dairy steers offer predictable and uniform feedlot performance (ADG, DMI, G:F) as a group, and improved quality grades compared with their native beef counterparts. However, dairy steers yield less red meat compared with native beef cattle due to a greater ratio of bone to muscle, internal fat, organ size, and gastrointestinal tract weight. Dairy steers present carcass size problems in the beef packing industry, with Holstein carcasses being too long and Jersey carcasses being light weight. Beef × dairy crossbreeding strategies are being implemented on some dairy farms to increase the income generated from bull calves and to improve the feed efficiency and yield of beef produced from the U.S. dairy herd. This new model of beef production from the dairy herd is not without its challenges. Early beef × dairy crossbreeding efforts have demonstrated variable results. 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 challenges realized with dairy genetics involved in beef production.