Beef-on-Dairy Practices: Genetics, Calf Management, and Feedlot Nutrition Essay (Article)

Introduction

In beef-on-dairy, breeding low-yielding dairy cows with beef sperm is gaining popularity. The increased value of the offspring compared to the conventional dairy male calf is the primary driver of growth. This article presents a literature review of research on best practices in beef-on-dairy, focusing on genetic use for Holstein and Jersey cows, the management of the calf from birth to weaning at the dairy, and the most prevalent nutrition practices before arrival at a commercial feedlot.

Best practices in the nutritional management of commercial feedlots are investigated, with a focus on variations in the management of Angus cattle. The majority of researchers acknowledge that there are obstacles to managing beef and dairy nutrition. This article provides suggestions for enhancing the quality and viability of the sector. With the proper professional intervention, beef-on-dairy can produce increased volumes of beef carcasses with a higher grade, giving feed yard operators greater access to value-based marketing opportunities.

Genetic Use for Holstein and Jersey Cows

Genetic Use for Holstein Cows

To ensure beef-on-dairy quality, veterinary assistance must guide herd management, particularly in optimizing gene quality. For instance, it has been statistically demonstrated in farm management that Holstein cows possess superior qualities desirable for beef-on-dairy production. Holstein cows have been proven to be adaptable to various nutritional management and utilization systems, as they can be stabled but are also suitable for grazing (Jiang et al., 2019). Similarly, the breed can be maintained on grassland or agroecosystems with bi-annual grazing and approximately a year of stability (Flores et al., 2022). As demonstrated, Holstein possesses genetic characteristics that can stabilize both low-cost farming systems and the dairy industry, where cows must be stabled for intensive farming.

Genetic Use for Jersey Cows

Jersey Cows have demonstrated comparable desirable genetic traits in beef-on-dairy research. Researchers have observed that the Jersey breed benefits animal welfare through fewer foot and leg problems, fewer udder collapses, less mastitis, and less calving difficulty due to its superior fertility (Li & Cabrera, 2019). The breed is associated with a rapid return to the reproductive cycle, reduced maintenance, enhanced fertility, and a shorter calving interval (Mota et al., 2022). A Jersey calf can be weaned between 8 and 12 weeks of age if she consumes at least 3 pounds of grain daily(Li & Cabrera, 2019, p.39). Jersey cows provide opportunities for small-scale and part-time agricultural management.

Management of the Calf from Birth to Weaning

In most Beef-on-Dairy management interventions, the initial investment is in managing calf nourishment from birth to weaning. Calves of the Jersey breed are weaned between 8 and 10 months of age, depending on factors such as healthy food (Mota et al., 2022). The ‘golden hour’ emergency medicine principle can be applied in managing newborn calves at risk (Flores et al., 2022).

In management, high-risk calves are sometimes identified before birth based on the probability of dystocia and during birth (Mota et al., 2022). In the first hour of life, the triage technique for pediatric care for at-risk bovine perinates includes the physical assessment, resuscitation as needed, and umbilical antisepsis (Foraker et al., 2022). The support for first feeding bolsters the calf’s immune system, promotes a healthy digestive tract by coating the intestines, and provides optimal nutrition.

Common Nutrition Practices Before Arriving at a Commercial Feedlot

The weaning stage of the calf requires raising cattle to minimize stress as much as possible, mainly when it is time to separate the calves from their mothers. Trends indicate that for the first five to seven days of weaning calves, they should consume a diet of approximately 2.5-3% of their body weight (Hanel, 2022). The overall diet might consist of a commercially available complete calf starting feed or a supplement combined with grass (Rovira et al., 2019). After weaning, calves earmarked for feedlots should have reached the minimum entry weight requirements.

Nutritional Management at the Commercial Feedlot

The primary objective of feedlots is to help animals gain weight as quickly and efficiently as possible. The management includes feeding the cattle a constant, high-energy diet and minimizing health issues and stress. Young calves in beef feedlots are given a high-energy diet to produce marketable meat at a low cost of gain (Flores et al., 2022).

Depending on the cattle’s initial body weight and age, the feeding duration may range from 12 to 60 months (Hanel, 2022). Animals kept in feedlots are primarily fed corn-based products, enabling them to be farmed on less acreage and reducing expenses (Berry, 2021). Trends indicate that the success of a contemporary feedlot is contingent upon effective management that caters to the specific demands of each breed.

Difference Compared to the Angus Cattle

For instance, Angus Cattle may require unique nutritional management at commercial feedlots. According to studies, using corn-based and high-starch rations to fatten cattle has the potential to increase carcass value (Jiang et al., 2019). Angus producers rarely graze their animals on pasture and are never administered antibiotics or hormones (Hashem et al., 2020). The ultimate objective of the Angus branch of the beef business is to grow the fattest cattle that will result in the marbled, soft steak (Hanel, 2022). With adequate nutritional control, the Angus breed has demonstrated superior marbling compared to all other commercial beef breeds.

Common Challenges in Beef-on-Dairy

Despite the sophisticated research in the beef-on-dairy industry, various hurdles have been identified that could be overcome to enhance productivity. For instance, beef producers continue to face challenges due to the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns, which reduced demand. Similarly, today, farmers are faced with additional obstacles as the conflict in Ukraine affects the supply chain networks of crucial animal feed (Azzam & Dhoubhadel, 2022). Similarly, debates on the impact of cattle agriculture on global warming have led to the implementation of several environmental regulations. These obstacles have significantly complicated the management of farms, particularly in ensuring the animals’ nutritional needs are met.

Possible Improvements

Therefore, beef producers should consider participating in studies aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of animal production. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Programs are two conservation incentive programs that farm managers should participate in. Managers must recognize that mitigation strategies are required to reduce the emission intensity of this sector and meet the growing demand for livestock products driven by population growth. To enhance the effectiveness of mitigation strategies, it is essential to consider the intricate relationships between the components of livestock production systems, thereby minimizing environmental trade-offs.

Conclusion

Nutrition Management is indispensable for maximizing the benefits of the beef-on-dairy industry. As previously stated, beef cattle feeds vary significantly in quality, palatability, and nutrient content. Researchers recommend that supplements be tailored to the type and quality of available roughage, depending on the breed of the animal. Under certain types of management, beef cattle are fed low-quality roughages throughout the winter, and as a result, they may not acquire the necessary nutrients for optimal performance.

A milk diet is crucial for calves since it determines the animal’s immunity and nutritional stability. At commercial feedlots, management includes providing a constant, high-energy diet and preventing health issues and stress in the cattle. Despite advances in beef-on-dairy nutrition management, concerns persist over supply chain issues and the impact of climate change. New initiatives to reward climate-smart behaviors have the potential to provide producers with advantages while also raising uncertainties about future policy orientations.

References

Azzam, A., & Dhoubhadel, S. (2022). COVID-19, beef price spreads, and market power. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 47(2), 462-476.

Berry, D. P. (2021). Invited review: Beef-on-dairy—The generation of crossbred beef× dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(4), 3789–3819.

Crowe, A. D., Lonergan, P., & Butler, S. T. (2021). Invited review: Use assisted reproduction techniques to accelerate genetic gain and increase the value of beef production in dairy herds. Journal of Dairy Science, 104(12), 12189–12206.

Flores, R., Plascencia, A., Barreras, A., Salinas-Chavira, J., Torrentera, N., & Zinn, R. A. (2022). Influence of arrival weight of Holstein steers of similar age on feedlot growth performance, dietary energetics, and carcass characteristics. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 9(1), 59.

Foraker, B. A., Frink, J. L., & Woerner, D. R. (2022). Invited review: a carcass and meat perspective of crossbred beef× dairy cattle. Translational Animal Science, 6(2), 27.

Hanel, E. C. (2022). Effect of feed composition and sex on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and profitability of Dorper lambs. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 7(1), 9.

Hashem, N. M., González-Bulnes, A., & Rodriguez-Morales, A. J. (2020). An overview of animal welfare and livestock supply chain sustainability under the COVID-19 outbreak. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, (1), 528.

Jiang, J., Ma, L., Prakapenka, D., VanRaden, P. M., Cole, J. B., & Da, Y. (2019). A large-scale genome-wide association study in US Holstein cattle. Frontiers in Genetics, 10(1), 412.

Li, W., & Cabrera, V. E. (2019). Dairy-Beef: Fad or Sustainable Future? Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council, 1(1), 37-41.

Mota, R., Brito, L., & Berry, D. (2022). Beef on dairy: using a simple tool to improve both cattle production systems. Frontiers in Genetics, 1(1), 13.

Rovira, P., McAllister, T., Lakin, S. M., Cook, S. R., Doster, E., Noyes, N. R.,… & Morley, P. S. (2019). Characterizing the microbial resistome in conventional and “raised without antibiotics” beef and dairy production systems. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10(2), 1980.