Secondary factors can then come into play, including modern traits such as feed efficiency, methane emissions and the polled gene. All of these are influenced by consumer pressures for high environmental and welfare standards and are likely to become a more important part of buyers’ demands.
Whatever choice is made, it’s important that you keep sight of the fact that dairy production remains your primary business, so the beef revenue must be achieved without any negative impact to dairy production.
However, whatever choice of beef on dairy is made, business agility is built into the system, as the strategy can be changed every year in response to market demands.
Sexed male or female beef on dairy semen
Just as with dairy breeding, sexed semen can be considered, but the choice of male or female is not always clear-cut, and both are available. Your production system and facilities may suit female animals or you may prefer to rear males, to more quickly meet your buyer’s goals and carcass requirements.
The outcome of choosing the right beef on dairy strategy will be to consistently achieve high-quality beef for your buyer and the consumer, and if you do it well, you can add significant profits to your farm’s bottom line.
Listen to more detail on the Beef on Dairy BreedCast (Episode 6)
