WEBVTT 00:00:10.490 --> 00:00:13.550 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast. Today we're 00:00:13.550 --> 00:00:16.269 diving into the costly mistake that's happening 00:00:16.269 --> 00:00:19.210 on dairy farms across the country, the obsession 00:00:19.210 --> 00:00:22.449 with black -hided calves at the expense of real 00:00:22.449 --> 00:00:26.260 genetic performance. Are you throwing away thousands 00:00:26.260 --> 00:00:29.039 of dollars in potential profits with every breeding 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.980 decision on your dairy farm? What if I told you 00:00:31.980 --> 00:00:34.219 that those cheap black Angus straws you've been 00:00:34.219 --> 00:00:37.259 using could actually be economic suicide for 00:00:37.259 --> 00:00:40.700 your operation? The numbers tell a shocking story. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:45.039 Since 2017, US beef semen sales have skyrocketed 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:48.560 by 6 .5 million units, while Holstein semen sales 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:52.299 plummeted by 6 .3 million units. This massive 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:54.759 shift has created a temporary market advantage, 00:00:55.140 --> 00:00:57.939 but those cheap black -hided beef semen straws 00:00:57.939 --> 00:01:00.100 aren't the bargain you think they are. While 00:01:00.100 --> 00:01:02.920 a generic black cross calf might fetch you $150 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:06.739 to $200 at birth compared to just $25 to $50 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:09.739 for a Holstein bull calf, premium beef crosses 00:01:09.739 --> 00:01:13.219 selected for the right genetics can command $225 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:17.140 to $250 per head. But that's just the beginning 00:01:17.140 --> 00:01:19.739 of the profit difference. In the next 20 minutes, 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:22.400 I'll explain why those black calves in your pen 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:25.680 might actually be Holstein steers in disguise, 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:29.219 how proper genetic selection can improve your 00:01:29.219 --> 00:01:33.140 daily gain by up to 25%, and the specific traits 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:35.579 you should be demanding from your semen representative. 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:39.519 Let's dive in. Okay, folks, gather around because 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:42.000 we've got some data that's been kind of bugging 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:47.219 us. And frankly, it's hard to ignore. Yeah. We're 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:49.579 talking about a... pretty big change since 2017. 00:01:50.359 --> 00:01:53.879 I mean, beef semen sales have gone up, you know, 00:01:53.879 --> 00:01:56.079 a whopping six and a half million here in the 00:01:56.079 --> 00:01:59.379 U .S. Wow. While Holstein semen sales have just 00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:02.859 tanked, you know, down 6 .3 million. Really? 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:05.079 I mean, those are some serious numbers, folks, 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:07.560 not just little blips on the radar. This is like 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:09.620 the whole dairy landscape is shifting. Yeah. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:12.900 So you listening out there, I got to ask, are 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.259 you part of this whole trend? Are you breeding 00:02:15.259 --> 00:02:19.819 for those black calves? Well, it's a pretty natural 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:21.879 response to how the market's been behaving, wouldn't 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:23.620 you say? Absolutely. I mean, who wouldn't be 00:02:23.620 --> 00:02:26.580 drawn to the promise of better prices for those 00:02:26.580 --> 00:02:28.599 beef on dairy calves? Right. It seems like easy 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:30.759 money at first. You just get that black hide 00:02:30.759 --> 00:02:32.819 and you're golden. Yeah. But that's where things 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:35.139 get a little tricky. We might even call it black 00:02:35.139 --> 00:02:38.199 hide blindness. Ooh, catchy. Yeah. A little dramatic 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:40.659 maybe. Yeah. But it really highlights this narrow 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:43.939 focus we're seeing. Yeah, it does. And the problem 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:47.319 with that laser focus on just color. Yeah. is 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:49.360 that we forget about the things that really matter 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:53.120 for a profitable herd. We get so fixated on the 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.860 black hide that we kind of forget about what's 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:58.500 underneath it. Exactly. The genetics that drive 00:02:58.500 --> 00:03:01.240 growth efficiency and carcass quality, those 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.520 are what determine the real value in the long 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:05.919 run. Bingo. And that's why we're here today. 00:03:06.139 --> 00:03:07.680 We're not just going to throw numbers at you. 00:03:07.740 --> 00:03:10.560 We want to dig deep and figure out why these 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:12.659 numbers are what they are. And more importantly, 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:15.590 what it all means for your bottom line. Exactly. 00:03:15.629 --> 00:03:17.830 We've gone through a ton of research and industry 00:03:17.830 --> 00:03:20.469 data to give you the full picture so you can 00:03:20.469 --> 00:03:23.129 make smart reading decisions that go beyond just 00:03:23.129 --> 00:03:25.330 what color that calf is going to be. That's right. 00:03:25.550 --> 00:03:28.409 We want you to have the knowledge to navigate 00:03:28.409 --> 00:03:31.449 this market strategically, not just react to 00:03:31.449 --> 00:03:34.169 it. Exactly. You know, it's about seeing past 00:03:34.169 --> 00:03:36.509 that initial price difference and understanding 00:03:36.509 --> 00:03:39.930 what drives profit in the long haul. OK, so let's 00:03:39.930 --> 00:03:42.250 dig into this whole beef on dairy premium thing. 00:03:42.449 --> 00:03:44.770 It's the epicenter of this shift, wouldn't you 00:03:44.770 --> 00:03:46.849 say? What really kicked things off? Well, I think 00:03:46.849 --> 00:03:50.430 the turning point was back in 2017, 2018, when 00:03:50.430 --> 00:03:54.810 the big meat packers, they basically stopped 00:03:54.810 --> 00:03:57.870 buying Holstein steers. Oh, wow. You know, as 00:03:57.870 --> 00:04:00.990 a primary product. Yeah. That really tanked the 00:04:00.990 --> 00:04:03.629 demand and, of course, the market value for those 00:04:03.629 --> 00:04:06.340 steers. Right. So a pretty standard option for 00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:08.199 some of those bull calves just kind of vanished. 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:10.479 Yeah. It wasn't viable anymore. The price just 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:12.020 didn't make sense. That must have been a shock 00:04:12.020 --> 00:04:14.539 to the industry. Oh, it was a big shakeup. And, 00:04:14.620 --> 00:04:16.360 you know, dairy producers, they're always looking 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:18.480 for a good return. Yeah. So it quickly turned 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:20.959 to beef breeds, especially Ankus. Oh, yeah. With 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:23.019 their reputation for those black hides. Right. 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:25.600 And you can see it in the numbers between 2017 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:30.339 and 2022. Beef on dairy crosses just exploded. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:34.290 They filled that gap. making up almost 70 % of 00:04:34.290 --> 00:04:36.389 the animals harvested that would have been Holstein 00:04:36.389 --> 00:04:39.930 steers before. 70 %? Yeah, that's a massive shift 00:04:39.930 --> 00:04:42.509 in a very short time. That's huge. Yeah. No wonder 00:04:42.509 --> 00:04:44.350 everyone jumped on board. It seemed like a simple 00:04:44.350 --> 00:04:46.569 solution, right? Yeah, breed for black, get a 00:04:46.569 --> 00:04:49.670 better price. Exactly. But as Denise Schwab from 00:04:49.670 --> 00:04:51.930 Iowa State University Extension pointed out, 00:04:51.970 --> 00:04:53.910 it's kind of like saying, just find me some cheap 00:04:53.910 --> 00:04:56.779 Holstein semen. You wouldn't do that for your 00:04:56.779 --> 00:04:59.519 dairy genetics. So why approach beef on dairy 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:02.199 any differently? It's a great analogy. You know, 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:04.579 you can't skimp on genetics. Even if you get 00:05:04.579 --> 00:05:07.120 that black calf, it's going to affect its value 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.959 down the line. Right. And the market data from 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:13.740 2023, 2024 really shows this. A newborn Holstein 00:05:13.740 --> 00:05:17.240 bull might bring in, what, $25 to $50? Yeah. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:20.819 But a generic black... crossbred calf, you're 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:23.540 looking at $150 to $200. Okay. That sounds like 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:25.500 a pretty good deal, right? It does at first glance. 00:05:25.639 --> 00:05:27.839 Yeah. But let's look a little closer at the feeder 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:30.800 calf values. No. You know, those 500, 600 pounders. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:34.500 Yeah. The Holstein bull is still way behind like 00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:38.420 $40 per hundredweight below a beef calf. Oh. 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:42.420 So that's a $200 to $240 hit per head. Ouch, 00:05:42.420 --> 00:05:44.480 the generic black cross is better, but still 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:47.959 $15, $20 per hundredweight behind. Okay. So that's 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:50.920 $7 ,520 per head you're losing out on. So just 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:53.040 getting that black hide isn't enough? Nope. You're 00:05:53.040 --> 00:05:55.100 leaving money on the table by not focusing on 00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:56.899 the genetics. So what are we talking about for 00:05:56.899 --> 00:06:00.360 a premium beef cross then? Now those are interesting. 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:03.540 Those newborns are valued even higher at $225 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:09.000 to $250. And as feeders, they're only $512 per 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.170 hundredweight below straight beef. So the discount 00:06:12.170 --> 00:06:16.649 shrinks to a tiny $25 .72 per head. Okay. You're 00:06:16.649 --> 00:06:18.870 looking at a potential four to six times higher 00:06:18.870 --> 00:06:21.870 value compared to that Holstein bull cap. Oh. 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:24.779 But it's the quality of the beef cross. Yeah. 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:26.620 The strategic genetic selection that makes the 00:06:26.620 --> 00:06:28.560 difference. Right. So that easy money from just 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:30.660 a black hide could disappear pretty quickly. 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:32.259 Yeah. If you're not careful, you could end up 00:06:32.259 --> 00:06:34.259 with a calf worth hundreds of dollars less than 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:36.680 a strategically bred cross. That's a big difference. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.779 Yeah. And this isn't just a local thing. Right. 00:06:38.980 --> 00:06:41.100 This is happening globally. Yeah, exactly. We 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:42.600 see this reflected in the global market, too. 00:06:42.699 --> 00:06:44.879 What are we seeing in Europe, for example? Well, 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:48.500 European auction data from 2021 to 2023 consistently 00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:51.800 shows beef on dairy calves valued at 50 % to 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:55.519 200 % more per kilogram than purebred Holsteins 00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:59.240 or brown Swiss. 50 % to 200 % higher. So this 00:06:59.240 --> 00:07:02.199 isn't just a U .S. phenomenon. Nope. It's a global 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:05.540 demand for a better product. Now, I find it interesting 00:07:05.540 --> 00:07:08.259 that Dan Thompson from Iowa State University 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:12.410 seems pretty positive about these. consistently 00:07:12.410 --> 00:07:15.750 grading beef -dairy crosses. Yeah. It seems like 00:07:15.750 --> 00:07:17.889 when done right, these animals can be a real 00:07:17.889 --> 00:07:20.569 asset to the feeder cattle supply. Right. But 00:07:20.569 --> 00:07:23.009 the key phrase there is consistently grading. 00:07:23.310 --> 00:07:26.170 Yeah. That comes from careful genetic selection, 00:07:26.230 --> 00:07:29.170 not just luck. Now, before everyone goes crazy 00:07:29.170 --> 00:07:32.370 and buys up all the premium beef semen, we do 00:07:32.370 --> 00:07:34.569 have to issue a disclaimer here, right? Absolutely. 00:07:34.629 --> 00:07:36.610 Market values are going to fluctuate for all 00:07:36.610 --> 00:07:38.519 cattle. Right. You know, they go up and down 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:40.500 depending on the season and the region. Yeah. 00:07:40.560 --> 00:07:43.019 So you folks listening, it's crucial to check 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:45.339 with your local livestock markets. Yeah. You 00:07:45.339 --> 00:07:47.000 know, see what the current prices are in your 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:49.920 area. Right. What we see as a general trend might 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:52.579 not apply everywhere. Exactly. Okay. So we've 00:07:52.579 --> 00:07:54.759 talked about the market shift, the potential 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:58.680 for better premiums and the danger of just chasing 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:01.279 black hides. Yeah. Now let's move on to something 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:03.439 fundamental, no matter what color the calf is, 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:08.230 health and welfare. Right. Black or otherwise 00:08:08.230 --> 00:08:11.250 doesn't make you any money. Very true. So we've 00:08:11.250 --> 00:08:14.170 seen the potential economic upside. Yeah. But 00:08:14.170 --> 00:08:16.250 what are the potential downsides, the things 00:08:16.250 --> 00:08:19.350 to be cautious about beyond just the price? OK, 00:08:19.430 --> 00:08:21.269 well, one thing that's absolutely crucial is 00:08:21.269 --> 00:08:23.329 top notch health management. Right. You know, 00:08:23.329 --> 00:08:26.689 if you want these beef dairy crosses to thrive 00:08:26.689 --> 00:08:29.670 and reach their full potential. Yeah. We see 00:08:29.670 --> 00:08:31.550 time and time again that respiratory disease 00:08:31.550 --> 00:08:34.570 is a major problem. Yeah. It's the second leading 00:08:34.570 --> 00:08:37.240 cause of death. in those first 60 days of life. 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:39.659 And then it becomes the leading cause after that. 00:08:39.860 --> 00:08:42.659 That's a scary thought. It is. And Sandra Stickin 00:08:42.659 --> 00:08:44.620 from the University of Wisconsin Extension, she's 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:47.120 got some strong words about the damage even one 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.779 case of pneumonia can do. Right, long -term damage. 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:52.259 Yeah, her research shows that just one episode 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:54.840 of respiratory disease in a calf can cause permanent 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.139 lung damage. Wow. And that directly impacts their 00:08:58.139 --> 00:09:00.929 final carcass weight and quality grades. So if 00:09:00.929 --> 00:09:02.570 you don't take care of those calves early on, 00:09:02.649 --> 00:09:04.809 it's going to postulate. Exactly. It's a domino 00:09:04.809 --> 00:09:07.429 effect. Yeah. You know, a sick calf means a lighter 00:09:07.429 --> 00:09:10.009 carcass. Yeah. Lower quality meat and less money 00:09:10.009 --> 00:09:12.429 in your pocket. Now, beyond the calf's health, 00:09:12.610 --> 00:09:15.549 this trend of breeding dairy cows to beef sires 00:09:15.549 --> 00:09:18.330 also raises some welfare concerns for the cows 00:09:18.330 --> 00:09:20.610 themselves, right? It does. There was a review 00:09:20.610 --> 00:09:24.809 published in PMC in 2023. Okay. And they raised 00:09:24.809 --> 00:09:27.350 some important points about using certain beef 00:09:27.350 --> 00:09:30.750 breeds on dairy cows. They found that it could 00:09:30.750 --> 00:09:33.830 increase gestation length, lead to dystocia, 00:09:33.990 --> 00:09:37.529 which is difficult calving, and even higher rates 00:09:37.529 --> 00:09:39.769 of stillbirths, depending on the breed. That's 00:09:39.769 --> 00:09:41.830 a big deal. It is, and the research really backs 00:09:41.830 --> 00:09:45.129 it up. Researchers looked at over 75 ,000 lactations. 00:09:45.250 --> 00:09:48.429 Wow. And they found a much higher risk of stillbirth 00:09:48.429 --> 00:09:51.549 in calves sired by crossbred beef bulls. How 00:09:51.549 --> 00:09:54.830 much higher? About 5 % compared to just 2%. For 00:09:54.830 --> 00:09:56.990 Holstein sired calves. So more than double the 00:09:56.990 --> 00:09:59.450 risk. Yeah. And it's not just stillbirths, right? 00:09:59.529 --> 00:10:01.230 The length of the pregnancy is affected too. 00:10:01.470 --> 00:10:04.409 That's right. Almost all beef sires tend to increase 00:10:04.409 --> 00:10:08.649 gestation length compared to that average. 277 00:10:08.649 --> 00:10:11.049 days we see in Holsteins. Right. For example, 00:10:11.049 --> 00:10:13.769 limousine sires added about five days, bringing 00:10:13.769 --> 00:10:17.289 the gestation to 282 days, and Wagyu sires even 00:10:17.289 --> 00:10:20.970 longer, up to 285 days. Wow. So these longer 00:10:20.970 --> 00:10:23.389 pregnancies can really impact your herd management. 00:10:23.669 --> 00:10:25.889 Yeah. And the cow's subsequent lactation too. 00:10:26.009 --> 00:10:28.549 So the key takeaway here is that it's not just 00:10:28.549 --> 00:10:30.629 about getting a black calf. Right. It's about 00:10:30.629 --> 00:10:33.490 choosing sires that are known for... easy calving. 00:10:33.490 --> 00:10:35.629 Yeah. Especially when you're breeding heifers. 00:10:35.629 --> 00:10:38.049 Absolutely. You might get a slightly higher calf 00:10:38.049 --> 00:10:41.090 value, but at what cost? Yeah. You could be increasing 00:10:41.090 --> 00:10:44.629 the risk and difficulty at calving time. That's 00:10:44.629 --> 00:10:46.870 a tough trade -off. It is. You need to find the 00:10:46.870 --> 00:10:48.850 right balance. Right. It's not just about the 00:10:48.850 --> 00:10:51.350 calf's traits. It's also about the cow's health 00:10:51.350 --> 00:10:53.169 and well -being. Exactly. You have to think about 00:10:53.169 --> 00:10:54.970 the whole picture. Okay. So we've covered the 00:10:54.970 --> 00:10:56.889 market, the premiums, the health and welfare 00:10:56.889 --> 00:11:00.419 concerns. Now let's get down to brass tacks and 00:11:00.419 --> 00:11:03.360 talk about performance. Okay. Because as we mentioned 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:06.080 earlier, not all black calves are created equal. 00:11:06.299 --> 00:11:08.259 Right. There's a big difference between what 00:11:08.259 --> 00:11:10.980 we call black Holsteins and those high -performing 00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:13.759 beef crossbreds. Yeah, that's a key distinction. 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:17.379 And a lot of the crosses we're seeing now, they 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:19.860 basically inherit the dairy frame and characteristics. 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:22.779 Right, even with that black hide. Exactly. And 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:27.200 the research is clear on this dairy type. Cattle 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.580 just don't perform as well as beef types. In 00:11:29.580 --> 00:11:33.019 what ways? Well, they generally have lower feed 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:36.480 efficiency, less muscle development, and a lower 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.080 dressing percentage. Meaning? Less of that live 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.100 weight actually becomes sellable meat. So you 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:46.059 might get that black calf. Yeah. But if it eats 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:48.460 more to gain less weight and yields less meat 00:11:48.460 --> 00:11:51.679 in the end. That black hide premium might not 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:54.039 be so great after all. Yeah. And Denise Schwab's 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:56.259 quote really hits home here. Oh, yeah. What does 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:58.399 she say? She said, breeding just for color is 00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.419 like producing Holstein steers without a market 00:12:00.419 --> 00:12:02.960 for them. Oh, right. It highlights the problem 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.299 of those tall black crossbreds that don't really 00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:07.220 fit in anywhere. They're not what the dairy industry 00:12:07.220 --> 00:12:09.480 wants and not what the beef industry wants. So 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:11.360 let's break down these performance differences 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.320 with some numbers. Sure. Because this is where 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:15.340 the rubber meets the road when it comes to profit. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:19.379 Okay. So for average daily gain. A Holstein -type 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:24.059 animal might gain about 1 .4 to 1 .50 kilograms 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:27.200 per day. Okay. Now, a quality beef crossbred 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:31.200 can achieve 1 .62 to 1 .76 kilograms per day. 00:12:31.299 --> 00:12:33.440 Wow, that's a big difference. Yeah, that's an 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.799 8 to 25 percent improvement in growth rate. And 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:38.639 that means? Fewer days on feed. Right. A well 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.100 -bred cross can reach market weight 5 to 26 days 00:12:41.100 --> 00:12:44.840 sooner. And with feed costs at $3 .50 per head 00:12:44.840 --> 00:12:47.559 per day. Those fewer days really add up to big 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:50.240 savings. Okay, so they grow faster and eat less 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:53.159 for the same amount of gain. What about the actual 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:55.940 meat yield, the dressing percentage? Right, well, 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.940 a typical Holstein might dress out at less than 00:12:57.940 --> 00:13:00.919 60%. Okay. But a quality beef crossbred will 00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:04.480 usually be over 61%. That extra percentage or 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.320 two means more red meat yield, which means more 00:13:07.320 --> 00:13:09.559 value for the packer and ultimately a better 00:13:09.559 --> 00:13:12.139 price for you. And we can't forget feed efficiency. 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:14.559 Oh, absolutely. How efficiently they turn feed 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.779 into weight. Right. Well, colony booth crossbreds 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:18.559 are just much more efficient at converting feed 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:21.580 into muscle. Okay. That lowers your overall cost 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:24.320 of gain, making them more profitable to feed 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:26.340 out. And then there's the big one, grading performance. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:29.120 Yeah. Everyone's talking about quality grades 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.980 these days. Right. That's all about the meat 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:34.679 quality. Exactly. And dairy type carcasses tend 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:37.879 to grade lower. They have less marbling, less 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:40.460 of that intramuscular fat. So they don't hit 00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:43.620 those high value prime and choice grades as often. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:46.659 And the beef crossbreds. Quality beef crossbreds 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:50.240 can have 15 to 25 % higher rates of hitting those 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.980 premium grades. Wow. And those grades come with 00:13:52.980 --> 00:13:54.960 big price premiums. So when you add it all up. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:57.809 Yeah. Faster growth, less feed, better yield, 00:13:58.029 --> 00:14:00.350 higher quality. These aren't just little improvements. 00:14:00.470 --> 00:14:03.070 They're huge profit multipliers. And if you're 00:14:03.070 --> 00:14:05.450 just breeding for a black hide and ending up 00:14:05.450 --> 00:14:08.190 with a low yielding, low quality carcass. Yeah. 00:14:08.269 --> 00:14:10.490 You're probably going to see more price deductions 00:14:10.490 --> 00:14:12.509 than premiums. That's right. The color might 00:14:12.509 --> 00:14:14.710 get you in the door, but performance is what 00:14:14.710 --> 00:14:17.039 pays the bills. So this really emphasizes the 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:19.580 importance of breed selection. It's not just 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:22.019 about picking any black bull. It's about choosing 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:24.659 genetics that will actually deliver. Right. And 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:27.279 the data shows some key differences between beef 00:14:27.279 --> 00:14:29.899 breeds commonly used on dairy cows. Yeah. For 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:32.799 example, Angus consistently performs really well. 00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:35.460 In what ways? They have a high average daily 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:39.080 gain around 1 .76 kilogram a day, and they tend 00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:42.299 to reach market weight quickly. Plus, they're 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:45.039 known for producing excellent marbling. and they 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:47.279 have a moderate frame size, which is often what 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.799 you want in a beef dairy cross. What about Charolais? 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:52.419 They're known for fast growth, right? Yeah. Charolais 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:55.000 crosses also grow quickly, around 1 .73 kilogram 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:57.899 a day, and have a relatively short feeding time. 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:00.740 They're known for their muscle development and 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:02.940 larger frame, which is great for meat yield. 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.419 Okay. But you might need to be a bit more careful 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:08.100 when using them on dairy cows, especially heifers, 00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.840 because they could have calving difficulties. 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:13.169 And cemental. Cemental crosses are a good all 00:15:13.169 --> 00:15:15.490 -around choice, with an average daily gain of 00:15:15.490 --> 00:15:19.210 about 1 .68 kg a day and a relatively short feeding 00:15:19.210 --> 00:15:22.070 time. They have good growth and a moderate frame, 00:15:22.210 --> 00:15:24.370 making them a versatile option. Now, limousine 00:15:24.370 --> 00:15:27.049 are also known for good muscle yield, but it 00:15:27.049 --> 00:15:29.750 seems there's a trade -off there. Yeah, limousine 00:15:29.750 --> 00:15:32.669 crosses do have excellent muscle yield, with 00:15:32.669 --> 00:15:36.230 an average daily gain of around 1 .65 kg a day 00:15:36.230 --> 00:15:39.549 and a good dressing percentage. Okay. But they 00:15:39.549 --> 00:15:41.850 also tend to have a longer gestation length. 00:15:42.049 --> 00:15:44.570 And as we discussed earlier, that can lead to 00:15:44.570 --> 00:15:47.250 economic losses because of delayed rebreeding 00:15:47.250 --> 00:15:49.570 and other factors. Now, there was some research 00:15:49.570 --> 00:15:52.190 out of Penn State that really supported the performance 00:15:52.190 --> 00:15:55.269 of Angus charolais and cemental crosses in terms 00:15:55.269 --> 00:15:57.970 of growth rate and how quickly they reach market 00:15:57.970 --> 00:16:00.389 weight. Right. Their study published in the Journal 00:16:00.389 --> 00:16:03.289 of Animal Science showed that those three breeds 00:16:03.289 --> 00:16:06.460 consistently performed the best. They had the 00:16:06.460 --> 00:16:09.279 highest average daily gain and the shortest time 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:12.019 on feed when crossed with Holsteins. And that 00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:14.500 point about the longer gestation with limousine 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.840 is important. Yeah, those extra days can really 00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:19.320 add up to lost money. It's something to consider 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:21.700 carefully when choosing a sire. Especially if 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:23.899 you're aiming for a tight calving interval. You 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:25.179 know, you've got to weigh the pros and cons. 00:16:25.620 --> 00:16:27.879 It's interesting what Dan Schaefer said about 00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:31.820 the... Amazing challenge of trying to hit certified 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:35.500 Angus beef standards in just one generation of 00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:38.259 crossbreeding. Yeah. It shows that it's not a 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:42.240 quick fix. It takes consistent and careful selection 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.960 over time to reach those goals. Exactly. Just 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.399 using any Angus bull isn't a guarantee of getting 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.919 those premium grades. Right. You need to be selective 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:53.700 even within the breed. Exactly. Now, all this 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:56.559 information is great. But this whole beef on 00:16:56.559 --> 00:17:00.039 dairy thing is still relatively new and constantly 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:02.320 evolving. Yeah, there's new research coming out 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:04.039 all the time. It's exciting. It is. And it's 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:06.599 great to see organizations like the Iowa Beef 00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:09.480 Industry Council funding research in this area. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.940 Oh, yeah. What are they doing? Well, they're 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:13.680 funding a three -part research project through 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.579 the Iowa Beef Center specifically to address 00:17:16.579 --> 00:17:18.599 the knowledge gaps in beef on dairy production. 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:20.940 That's fantastic. Really practical research. 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:23.460 They're actually following these calves from 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:26.190 birth to harvest. They're feeding three groups 00:17:26.190 --> 00:17:29.509 of beef dairy crosses at the Iowa State Feed 00:17:29.509 --> 00:17:32.750 Intake Monitoring System, tracking their feed 00:17:32.750 --> 00:17:36.589 intake growth and then collecting detailed carcass 00:17:36.589 --> 00:17:39.269 data. So they're getting the whole picture. Exactly. 00:17:39.269 --> 00:17:43.670 And Gail Carpenter from ISU Extension, she emphasizes 00:17:43.670 --> 00:17:46.720 that this is still a new area. Right. And the 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:48.920 goal is to get producers the most up -to -date 00:17:48.920 --> 00:17:51.079 information. That's what we need. Yeah. When 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:53.980 will we start seeing some results? Well, the 00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:56.259 first group of calves was expected to reach market 00:17:56.259 --> 00:18:00.059 weight around March of 2025. Okay. So soon. Yeah. 00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.779 So we should start seeing some preliminary data 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:04.700 soon and then more as the other two groups are 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:07.289 harvested. Now, it's not just the U .S. that's 00:18:07.289 --> 00:18:09.289 doing this kind of research, right? Other countries 00:18:09.289 --> 00:18:11.450 are developing tools for beef on dairy breeding 00:18:11.450 --> 00:18:13.789 decisions. What are they doing in Ireland, for 00:18:13.789 --> 00:18:16.210 example? Well, Ireland has developed a beef on 00:18:16.210 --> 00:18:19.210 dairy index. They call it the Buddy Index. Okay. 00:18:19.369 --> 00:18:22.289 And this index ranks bulls based on the expected 00:18:22.289 --> 00:18:25.269 economic output of their calves, considering 00:18:25.269 --> 00:18:28.009 factors like calving difficulty and carcass characteristics. 00:18:28.109 --> 00:18:30.650 It's a well -rounded approach. Exactly. It's 00:18:30.650 --> 00:18:32.960 not just about one trait. And the Nordic countries 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.559 are involved too, right? Denmark, Sweden, and 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:38.160 Finland, they've introduced the Nordic Beef on 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:41.940 Dairy Index, or NBDI. Okay. And their index includes 00:18:41.940 --> 00:18:46.180 seven key traits focusing on minimizing calving 00:18:46.180 --> 00:18:49.480 difficulty and stillbirth rates and maximizing 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:51.960 carcass value. So they're really addressing those 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:54.059 welfare concerns we talked about. Absolutely. 00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:55.839 They're trying to select for both profitability 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.160 and animal well -being. These international efforts 00:18:59.160 --> 00:19:02.279 really show that beef on dairy isn't just a fad. 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:06.299 It's a serious strategy, and it requires a strategic 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:08.960 approach to breeding. Yeah, these indexes give 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:11.039 breeders the tools to make informed decisions. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.759 Right, decisions that benefit both the dairy 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:16.680 farm and the beef market. Exactly. Now, for some 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:19.579 producers, all this talk of indexes and EPDs 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:21.900 might be a bit overwhelming. Oh, yeah, it can 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:24.500 seem complicated. The article did mention situations 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:27.660 where a simpler approach might be better. Right. 00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:30.160 Can you walk us through those? Sure. For producers 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:32.579 who don't have a lot of time or resources to 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:35.339 dive into the genetics, just choosing reputable 00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:37.960 Angus genetics with good calving ease is still 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:39.940 a good strategy. Better than just picking any 00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:42.339 black bull. Exactly. You're at least addressing 00:19:42.339 --> 00:19:44.599 that risk of difficult births. What about smaller 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:47.400 herds? If you're only breeding a few cows to 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:49.279 beef, does it make sense to do all that genetic 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:52.680 analysis? In very small herds, say less than 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:56.420 25 cows, the return on investment for in -depth 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:59.180 analysis might not be worth it. Okay. In those 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:01.240 cases, it's probably better to focus on just 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:05.160 a few key traits and choose a bull with a proven 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:07.339 track record for those traits. And we have to 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:09.680 acknowledge that the cost of premium semen can 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:12.279 be a barrier for some. Yeah, it's more expensive. 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:15.559 The article mentioned a $5 to $15 difference 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:19.019 per straw. Right. And for producers with tight 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:21.720 budgets phasing in better genetics, gradually 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:23.619 might be a good approach. How would they do that? 00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.839 Well, they could start by using higher quality 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:28.940 semen on their best cows or heifers and then 00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:31.500 expand the program as their budget allows. James 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:33.400 Westfield is a great example of this. Oh, yeah, 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:35.559 he's a great example. He started with cheap Angus 00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:38.119 semen and saw a small price increase. Right. 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:40.460 But then he really focused on traits like moderate 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:44.039 frame and superior muscling and saw a much bigger 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:46.759 jump in his calf prices. And the best part is 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:50.039 it only cost him about $8 more per straw. That's 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:52.480 a great return on investment. It is. It shows 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:55.579 that even a small increase in semen cost can 00:20:55.579 --> 00:20:58.599 lead to big improvements in calf value if you're 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:00.940 strategic about it. So it's not all or nothing. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.440 Right. Producers can start small and gradually 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:06.700 incorporate better genetics as they learn and 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:09.079 see the benefits. Exactly. The key is to move 00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:11.500 away from just color -based selection and start 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:13.839 thinking about the underlying genetics. Even 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.579 if you're just focusing on one or two traits 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:17.980 at first. Right. Any step in the right direction 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:19.920 is a good step. Now let's talk about turning 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:23.000 all this knowledge into profit. The article mentions 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.539 some resources that can help producers make better 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:28.400 breeding decisions. Yes. There are some great 00:21:28.400 --> 00:21:30.539 resources out there specifically for beef on 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:33.079 dairy crossbreeding. Like what? Well, the Iowa 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:35.720 Beef Industry Council has funded a web resource 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:38.519 library. And you can access it through the Iowa 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:41.400 Beef Center and the Iowa State University Dairy 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:44.559 Team websites. So it's easy to find. Yeah. And 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:46.880 Denise Schwab, she points out that this isn't 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:49.839 just generic breeding advice. It's tailored specifically 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:52.819 for the challenges and opportunities of beef 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:55.460 on dairy crosses. So it's really practical information. 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.900 Exactly. It's based on the latest research and 00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.960 designed to help producers make decisions on 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.599 their farms. The article also has a table that 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:05.519 outlines expert selection criteria for beef on 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:07.440 dairy sires. Oh, yeah. That's a handy table. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:09.799 Can you go over some of those key targets? Sure. 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:11.599 Well, for calving ease, you want to look for 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.740 sires in the top 30 to 50 percent for their breeds 00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:17.940 EPD for calving ease. OK. And what does EPD stand 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:21.000 for again? EPD stands for expected progeny difference. 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:24.329 Right. It's basically an estimate of how a bull's 00:22:24.329 --> 00:22:27.150 calves are expected to perform for a specific 00:22:27.150 --> 00:22:29.609 trait compared to the average for the breed. 00:22:29.789 --> 00:22:32.029 So it's a way to compare bulls. Exactly. Okay, 00:22:32.089 --> 00:22:33.970 back to the selection criteria. Right. So for 00:22:33.970 --> 00:22:36.230 birth weight, you generally want sires in the 00:22:36.230 --> 00:22:39.430 bottom 50 % for their birth weight EPD. To keep 00:22:39.430 --> 00:22:41.849 those calves from getting too big. Right. What 00:22:41.849 --> 00:22:44.109 about the traits for growth and carcass quality? 00:22:44.569 --> 00:22:46.410 Well, for weaning weight and yearling weight 00:22:46.410 --> 00:22:50.430 aiming for sires in the top 40 to 60%. is a good 00:22:50.430 --> 00:22:54.150 balance. Okay. You want good growth, but not 00:22:54.150 --> 00:22:57.170 excessively large animals. Right. For ribeye 00:22:57.170 --> 00:22:59.289 area, which is a measure of muscling, you want 00:22:59.289 --> 00:23:02.789 sires in the top 25%. And for marbling, which 00:23:02.789 --> 00:23:05.890 affects meat quality, aim for the top 20 to 25%. 00:23:05.890 --> 00:23:08.549 Okay. And for back fat. You want a moderate to 00:23:08.549 --> 00:23:11.170 low EPD for back fat to avoid too much fat in 00:23:11.170 --> 00:23:13.309 the carcass. So those are some specific targets 00:23:13.309 --> 00:23:15.529 producers can look for. Yeah. Gives them something 00:23:15.529 --> 00:23:18.210 concrete to aim for. The article also explains 00:23:18.210 --> 00:23:20.430 some other important terms like frame score, 00:23:20.789 --> 00:23:23.809 rib eye area, marbling score, yield grade, dressing 00:23:23.809 --> 00:23:25.990 percentage, and dystocia. Right. It's like a 00:23:25.990 --> 00:23:27.730 whole new language. But it's a language that 00:23:27.730 --> 00:23:30.690 can help you make more money. Exactly. Understanding 00:23:30.690 --> 00:23:33.750 these terms is crucial for making informed breeding 00:23:33.750 --> 00:23:36.009 decisions. Now, as we've discussed, this isn't 00:23:36.009 --> 00:23:39.269 just a U .S. trend. There's global support for 00:23:39.269 --> 00:23:42.369 well -bred beef on dairy crosses. Yeah, the auction 00:23:42.369 --> 00:23:44.230 data from Italy is a good example. What did they 00:23:44.230 --> 00:23:46.750 find? They found that beef on dairy calves were 00:23:46.750 --> 00:23:51.869 selling for 50 % to 200 % more per kilogram than 00:23:51.869 --> 00:23:55.200 pure dairy calves. Wow. It shows that there's 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:58.079 strong international demand for these crosses. 00:23:58.359 --> 00:24:00.480 And countries like New Zealand and Australia 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:03.380 are integrating beef breeding into their herd 00:24:03.380 --> 00:24:05.720 improvement strategies. Yeah, they're using genomic 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:07.480 selection to make those decisions. It's pretty 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:10.519 advanced. It is. And it shows that they see long 00:24:10.519 --> 00:24:13.119 -term value in this approach. The auction data 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:15.740 from Canada also supports this. Right. Beef on 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:17.859 dairy bull calves in Canada are consistently 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:20.920 selling for a premium. How much? Anywhere from 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:24.480 $30 to $140 Canadian, more than pure dairy bull 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:26.839 calves. That's a big difference. It is. And that 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:29.990 2023 PMC review we talked about. Yeah. They summed 00:24:29.990 --> 00:24:32.029 it up nicely by saying that meat from well -bred 00:24:32.029 --> 00:24:34.650 beef on dairy crosses is definitely marketable 00:24:34.650 --> 00:24:37.069 as beef. Okay. And while the quantity might be 00:24:37.069 --> 00:24:40.250 slightly less than some beef breeds, the quality 00:24:40.250 --> 00:24:42.690 is significantly higher than from pure dairy 00:24:42.690 --> 00:24:45.069 animals. So it's a win -win? Yeah, you get a 00:24:45.069 --> 00:24:47.329 good product that's in demand. Now, the article 00:24:47.329 --> 00:24:49.930 did address some concerns that producers might 00:24:49.930 --> 00:24:52.829 have about this more strategic approach to breeding. 00:24:53.250 --> 00:24:56.289 Yeah, there are always concerns when you're trying 00:24:56.289 --> 00:24:58.289 something new. What are some of the common ones? 00:24:58.839 --> 00:25:01.180 Well, one concern is that it's too complicated. 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:04.960 Yeah, all the EPDs and indexes can seem daunting. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:08.200 They can, but the potential benefits are worth 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:10.000 it. And as we said, you can start simple and 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:12.160 gradually learn more. Right. You don't have to 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:14.759 become a genetics expert overnight. Exactly. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:18.579 And there are AI companies that offer pre -selected 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:20.799 beef on dairy packages to make it easier. That's 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:23.019 helpful. Another concern is the cost of premium 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:25.920 semen. Yeah, it's a valid concern. It is, but 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:27.119 you have to look at the return on investment. 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:30.319 That more expensive straw of semen could lead 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:32.799 to a much higher price for the calf. Right. It's 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.799 about long -term profit, not just short -term 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.779 savings. Exactly. And then there are producers 00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:39.079 who think their current program is fine. Yeah, 00:25:39.140 --> 00:25:40.579 they're getting black calves at a decent price. 00:25:40.980 --> 00:25:43.619 But as you said, the market is changing. It is. 00:25:43.950 --> 00:25:46.430 Buyers are becoming more discerning. And that 00:25:46.430 --> 00:25:48.809 price difference between generic black calves 00:25:48.809 --> 00:25:51.029 and those high -performing crosses is likely 00:25:51.029 --> 00:25:53.470 to widen. So just breeding for black might not 00:25:53.470 --> 00:25:55.630 be a good strategy for much longer. Right. The 00:25:55.630 --> 00:25:58.069 market is evolving and you have to keep up. So 00:25:58.069 --> 00:26:00.589 it comes down to a choice. Do you stick with 00:26:00.589 --> 00:26:03.210 the status quo and risk losing out? Yeah. Or 00:26:03.210 --> 00:26:05.809 do you embrace a more strategic approach and 00:26:05.809 --> 00:26:08.069 position yourself for long -term success? That's 00:26:08.069 --> 00:26:10.039 the question every producer has to answer. The 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:13.839 shift we saw from 2017 to 2022 with beef on dairy 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:17.640 crosses replacing 70 % of Holstein steers. Yeah. 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:20.400 That was a huge market transformation. It was. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.500 This isn't a niche market anymore. Right. It's 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:24.740 a major part of the beef supply chain. And those 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:27.440 well -bred crosses offer significant advantages. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:30.640 Faster growth, shorter feeding, times better 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:33.480 carcass, yield higher quality grades. All of 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:36.099 that contributes to a more profitable animal. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:38.650 Absolutely. But we do have to remember that those 00:26:38.650 --> 00:26:41.430 premiums can vary. Yeah. And they're always subject 00:26:41.430 --> 00:26:43.789 to market fluctuation. Right. So producers need 00:26:43.789 --> 00:26:45.630 to stay informed about their local conditions. 00:26:45.970 --> 00:26:47.910 So the question for you, the listener, is this. 00:26:48.190 --> 00:26:52.009 Are you breeding problem calves? Yeah. Or are 00:26:52.009 --> 00:26:55.230 you breeding premium crossbreds? Right. Which 00:26:55.230 --> 00:26:56.970 one do you want to be known for? Your next breeding 00:26:56.970 --> 00:26:59.769 decision is crucial. It is. It could make or 00:26:59.769 --> 00:27:02.049 break your profitability. The semen catalog is 00:27:02.049 --> 00:27:05.230 open, folks. Choose wisely. Okay, let's recap 00:27:05.230 --> 00:27:07.630 the key takeaways from our deep dive into beef 00:27:07.630 --> 00:27:10.609 on dairy breeding. Okay. First, genetic selection 00:27:10.609 --> 00:27:14.009 matters. Quality beef crosses have the potential 00:27:14.009 --> 00:27:16.730 for better growth efficiency and carcass quality. 00:27:17.130 --> 00:27:20.769 It's been proven time and time again. Second, 00:27:20.829 --> 00:27:23.730 target specific traits when selecting sires. 00:27:23.849 --> 00:27:26.400 Yeah. Aim for the top percentages for ribeye 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:29.079 area marbling and maintain a moderate frame score. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:31.240 Those are the traits that will pay off. Third, 00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:33.819 don't forget about animal health. Right. Respiratory 00:27:33.819 --> 00:27:36.259 disease is a major threat, so make sure those 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:38.539 calves get good colostrum and proper vaccinations. 00:27:38.940 --> 00:27:40.920 Gotta give them a good start. Fourth, the economics 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:44.039 are clear. Investing in premium genetics can 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:46.619 lead to a much higher return. Yeah, that extra 00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:50.880 $10 to $15 per straw. could turn into $35 to 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:54.259 $75 or more per calf. That's a no -brainer. It's 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:56.140 an investment worth considering. And finally, 00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:58.619 the market is constantly evolving. Right. Those 00:27:58.619 --> 00:28:01.480 low -quality crosses are becoming more common. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:04.700 Yeah. And that means the premium for just any 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:07.299 black calf is likely to shrink. So you've got 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:09.240 to stay ahead of the curve, focus on genetic 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:12.779 merit. So here's a final thought for you. What's 00:28:12.779 --> 00:28:15.279 one change you can make in your breeding strategy 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:19.099 right now? to move beyond that black hide blindness 00:28:19.099 --> 00:28:22.259 and really secure your future in this market. 00:28:22.440 --> 00:28:25.359 It's time to take action. Take some time. Explore 00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:27.559 the resources at the Iowa Beef Center. There's 00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:29.160 a wealth of information out there to help you 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:31.359 make the best decisions. Thanks for joining us 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:33.099 for this deep dive, folks. It's been a pleasure. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:35.619 We'll see. That brings us to the end of today's 00:28:35.619 --> 00:28:38.259 episode on black hide blindness. Let's quickly 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:41.619 recap what we've learned. First, the market is 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:44.480 evolving. As more poor -quality crosses flood 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:47.160 feedlots, buyers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:50.019 and the price spread between generic black calves 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:53.299 and premium crosses will only widen. Second, 00:28:53.500 --> 00:28:56.380 the numbers don't lie. Quality beef crossbreds 00:28:56.380 --> 00:29:00.539 achieve 8 -25 % better daily gain, need 5 -26 00:29:00.539 --> 00:29:04.380 fewer days on feed, and grade 15 -25 % higher 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:08.359 than generic black crosses. That $10 -15 premium 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:12.460 per straw can return $35 to $75 per animal in 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:16.259 improved market value. Finally, remember that 00:29:16.259 --> 00:29:18.200 your breeding decisions today determine your 00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:21.559 profitability tomorrow. Ask yourself, are you 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:23.700 producing the next generation of problem calves 00:29:23.700 --> 00:29:26.460 that nobody wants, or are you creating crossbreds 00:29:26.460 --> 00:29:28.460 that will command premiums for years to come? 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:31.859 If you found this information valuable, visit 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:35.019 thebullvine .com for our full article with detailed 00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:38.529 selection criteria and performance data. You 00:29:38.529 --> 00:29:40.650 can also find links to our recommended resources 00:29:40.650 --> 00:29:43.470 for beef on dairy breeding in the show notes. 00:29:44.450 --> 00:29:46.589 Thanks for listening to the Bullvine Podcast, 00:29:47.089 --> 00:29:49.190 where we're not afraid to challenge conventional 00:29:49.190 --> 00:29:52.589 wisdom when your bottom line is at stake. Until 00:29:52.589 --> 00:29:55.690 next time, choose your genetics wisely. Your 00:29:55.690 --> 00:29:57.809 future profitability depends on it.