Over the past few years, however, dairy-beef carcasses marketed from young animals fed high-energy diets have been priced closer to their true value. Dairy-beef often commands lower prices because carcass yields are lower than conventional beef breeds. beef-packing companies readily purchase finished dairy-type steers, the beef market requires that the steers have been fed the proper diet. Producers should carefully research local markets and develop marketing strategies before beginning a dairy-beef operation. In addition, this enterprise is easy to enter when profit projections are favorable and to exit when unfavorable. Existing facilities can be used to feed and house the steers, and farm-grain feeds can be used. Animals that are fed early with grain-based diets and slaughtered at 12 to 14 months produce meat that is well marbled and tender, and has become popular with consumers.ĭairy-beef production lends itself well to small-scale and part-time farming operations and also can be an auxiliary enterprise for dairy operations. With the decline in the veal market, the supply of Holstein bull calves for beef markets has increased. Production of dairy beef, which depends almost entirely on Holstein bull calves, has become an important part of the overall supply of beef in the United States.

Raising dairy bull calves for profit