It’s no secret that beef-on-dairy calves are worth a pretty penny. In fact, beef-cross calves have fetched astounding vales of more than $1,000 per head in some markets. And while even average crossbred animals are bringing a decent profit, healthy, well-grown calves are worth top dollar.
According to Sandra Stuttgen, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the best way to add value to beef-on-dairy calves is to communicate their health status with buyers. This entails keeping records of their genetic information, vaccination procedures and any health events the animal incurs.
“Beef cross calves will be on the grill less than 22 months after birth, Stuttgen says. “Marketing wet dairy-beef cross calves with some guarantee of future health and growth performance is an opportunity that no dairy should ignore.”
What to Track
When buyers look for beef-cross calves, the health status of the animals is their top priority. This means buyers may be willing to pay a premium for calves with well-documented health records. Therefore, Stuttgen encourages farmers to track the following information:
Colostrum Receival – Just like traditional dairy calves, it’s essential for beef-on-dairy animals to receive adequate amounts of high-quality colostrum within the first few hours of life. To market the calf’s health status effectively, provide evidence of passive colostrum transfer and share the dam’s vaccination protocol.
“The calf received colostrum; therefore, the calf should have maternal antibodies to the agents covered by the dry cow or close-up heifer vaccine protocol that includes scour-prevention vaccines,” Stuttgen explains.
She suggests using a portable calf scale to measure the calf’s weight before colostrum feeding to ensure accurate colostrum and subsequent feeding. Additionally, validate weekly colostrum management by taking total protein (TP) or Brix measurements of all calves aged between 1 and 7 days.
Vaccines – Sharing an animal’s vaccination records is another way dairy producers can add value to their beef-cross calves. By providing detailed vaccination documentation, buyers feel more assured that they are purchasing healthy, robust calves who were given preventative care measures. Stuttgen recommends documenting all vaccination procedures and working alongside your veterinarian to develop health protocols specifically for crossbred calves.
Weight – According to Stuttgen, calves should double their birthweight by day 56 at 8 weeks of age, which translates into an average daily gain (ADG) of 1.5 lbs. She recommends weighing calves prior to transport and marketing those that have gained weight since their birthday.
“Tracking the animal’s growth (weight and height) allows for accurately feeding them to reach their potential stature. Measure weight and calculate ADG and height at weaning and continue to track weight ADG at subsequent pen or ration changes. Retain calves that haven’t [gained the appropriate amount of weight] and work to identify and correct the reasons why calves.”
Health Events – If an animal becomes ill, it’s important to make note of the event along with any treatments the animal receives. This especially holds true for respiratory problems.
“One or two treatments for respiratory symptoms early in a young calf’s life often causes reduced lung capacity, which raises susceptibility to respiratory disease later in life,” Stuttgen notes. “In the feed lot, this leads to poor weight gain and reduced carcass quality grades.”
Another major concern are calves who are infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea, or BVD. According to Stuttgen, BVD is a major risk to calf health and persistently infected (BVD-PI) calves should be identified and euthanized. She suggests testing all newborn calves for BVD-PI and only marketing calves who are negative.
Take Advantage of Today’s Prices
With the beef-on-dairy market booming, dairy farmers utilizing a beef-on-dairy program need to seize every opportunity to market their crossbred calves effectively. This means not only ensuring the highest standards of health and nutrition, but also maintaining detailed health and vaccination records. By leveraging these strategies, farmers can maximize the value and appeal of their calves in this competitive market.
