The beef-on-dairy trend is set to continue as a significant profit driver for dairy farms into 2026.
This practice, involving breeding a portion of the lower-end dairy herd genetics with beef sires, has substantially increased calf values, with day-old beef-on-dairy calves fetching significant prices due to a constrained U.S. beef supply. The combined income from cull cow and cross calf sales has seen a notable rise, contributing significantly to overall farm revenue and offering a valuable strategy for dairy producers to enhance profitability and manage risk in a fluctuating market.
In 2025, the beef-on-dairy stories for U.S. dairy producers that most resonated centered on the substantial increase in calf values and the significant contribution these sales made to overall farm revenue, offering a robust new profit stream and enhancing financial resilience amid market fluctuations.
Check out these beef-on-dairy stories:
- Where Will the Replacement Heifers Come From? - Dairy Herd
- From Discount to Dominance: The Rise of Beef-on-Dairy - Dairy Herd
- Beef-on-Dairy Calves Reshape the Industry: Purina Report - Dairy Herd
- Beef-on-Dairy: A Critical Solution to the Shrinking U.S. Cattle Herd - Dairy Herd
- Feel the Power of Amarillo’s Milk Boom Where Over 1,100 Loads Leave Daily - Dairy Herd
