Use of Beef Semen on Dairy Farms: A Cross-Sectional Study on Attitudes of Farmer Toward Breeding Strategies

Abstract

The use of beef semen on dairy cows has been increasing steadily since 2017. We aimed to describe dairy management practices toward the use of beef semen by surveying farmers in California, the largest US dairy producer. In January 2020, we mailed a printed version of the beef semen use survey to 1,017 dairy producers in California, who also had the option to answer the survey online. The questionnaire consisted of 33 questions that were categorized into three sections: general herd information (n = 10), beef semen management (n = 17), and sexed dairy semen management (n = 6). The response rate was 13.9% (n = 141). Regression models were used to evaluate the associations between the dairy-beef crossbred sale price, use of beef semen, and use of sexed dairy semen vs. herd characteristics. The mean ± SD herd size was 1,693 ± 1,311 milking cows. Most dairies (81%) reported using beef semen on dairy cows. Among respondents, 78% reported extra profit as the main advantage of using beef semen, followed by control of heifer inventory (69%), genetic improvement (37%), and other factors (8%). Most respondents (58%) started using beef semen in the past 3 years and 34% of the respondents were breeding more than 30% of all the eligible cows with beef semen. Angus semen was the most used (reported by 89% of the respondents), followed by Limousin (12%), Wagyu (10%), Charolais (7%), others (5%, Limflex, Stabilizer, and Hereford), and Simmental (4%). Reproductive performance was an important criterion to select cows to receive beef semen and 45% of the respondents reported starting breeding cows with beef semen from the third breeding, 18% on the fourth breeding, and 21% on the fifth or greater breedings. The region of California (a proxy for type of production system) contracts with a calf ranch and the herd breed explained 76.7% of the observed variation in the day-old dairy beef crossbred calf price. Survey results demonstrated the widespread use of beef semen in dairies and the main breeding strategies adopted by dairy farmers.

Survey of the use of beef semen in dairy herds in Pennsylvania and nearby states

“…Of the respondents using beef semen, 88.2% declared making an additional profit due to incorporating beef semen in their breeding decisions. Unlike the profitability reported by Pereira et al (2022) , where Angus cross progeny profitability was more variable than other breeds, profitability of beef × dairy crosses, within the Northeast survey respondents, was less dependent on breed. In fact, reported profitability was variable and, thus, it was difficult to ascertain the primary driver of profit.…”

“…Dairies have rapidly adopted breeding with beef semen. Pereira et al (2022) reported that 81% of the dairies surveyed in California were using beef semen in their dairy cows and 76.7% of the variation in day-old calf price was explained by dairies that had contracts with calf-ranches. While fewer respondents in the Northeast report using beef semen (76.4% compared with the 81% adoption in CA), an additional 4.7% of respondents reported they plan to use beef semen in future dairy breedings.…”

“…The most notable U.S. report on beef × dairy crossbred cattle was a survey conducted in California. Pereira et al (2022) reported that 81% of the dairies surveyed in California were using beef semen in their dairy cows and 76.7% of the variation in day-old calf price was explained by dairies that had contracts with calf raising operations that purchase and raise male dairy and male and female beef × dairy calves (i.e., calf ranches). The authors concluded that beef × dairy breeding has greatest financial returns when contracts with calf ranches are available.…”

Crossbreeding beef sires to dairy cows: cow, feedlot, and carcass performance

“…Moreover, the number of beef breeds represented between these sires was limited. McWhorter et al (2020) and Pereira et al (2022) demonstrated that, in U.S. beef × dairy crossbreeding systems, Angus was the predominant sire breed of choice. Compared to these studies, Halfman and Sterry (2019) reported a lesser percentage use of Angus (although it was still predominant) and a greater percentage of other breeds, including Simmental, Limousin, and their Angus-influenced composites.…”

The impact of sire breed on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of beef × Holstein steers

“…Survey results and evaluations of dairy herd management records suggest that Angus is the primary sire breed used in U.S. beef × dairy inseminations ( McWhorter et al. 2020 ; Pereira et al., 2022 ; Felix et al., 2023 ; Lauber et al., 2023 ). This is reflected by the shift away from fed Holstein steers to black-hided beef × dairy animals reported in the most recent National Beef Quality Audit ( NBQA, 2016 , 2023 ).…”