Source: OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT OF COMPOSITE DAIRY X BEEF CROSSBREDS ON ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OF BEEF PRODUCTION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1028272
Grant No.
2022-68008-37102
Cumulative Award Amt.
$291,199.00
Proposal No.
2021-09871
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2022
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2025
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[A1701]- Critical Agricultural Research and Extension: CARE
Project Director
Beck, P.
Recipient Organization
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
STILLWATER,OK 74078
Performing Department
Animal & Food Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Dairy and beef producers are pressured by low profitability and external forces with negative perceptions of animal handling and welfare, and animal agriculture's impact on the environment. Historically, the value from the sale of bull calves in dairy enterprises has represented a small percentage of their total revenue. Reproductive technologies allow producers to select replacement heifers from only their best cows. For dairy cows with lower genetic merit, beef breed sires can achieve pregnancies needed to start new lactations. These dairy x beef crosses offer superior genetic merit for finishing performance, efficiency, and immune function compared with straight bred dairy steers, adding value to the dairy enterprise.Research is needed to investigate the management of beef x dairy crossbred calves destined for beef production to provide producers recommendations for feeding and management as well as their environmental and economic implications.In this project, we aim to determine the effects of management of beef x dairy crossbred steers for beef production on economic and environmental sustainability and educate beef producers on best management practices of these calves to improve rural economic competitiveness.The objectives of this integrated research and Extension proposal are:1. Determine effects of management of beef x dairy calves for beef production on system productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability in comparison with traditional beef production.2. Define and educate producers on best management practices for beef production from beef x dairy composites through virtual and in-person conferences, field days, farm tours, fact sheets, and webinars.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023310101050%
6013310301030%
6053310301020%
Knowledge Area
302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management; 605 - Natural Resource and Environmental Economics;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 3010 - Economics;
Goals / Objectives
Long-Term Goals: To provide foundational best management practices for beef producers to improve health and welfare, production efficiency, and meat production from beef x dairy crossbred steers leading to the improved economic competitiveness of rural economies and economic resiliency of beef and dairy farms.The objectives of this integrated research and Extension proposal are:Objective 1 (Research): Determine effects of alternative management practices of beef x dairy calves used for beef production on system productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability in comparison to traditional beef breeds.Research Sub-Objective 1: Investigate post-weaning finishing system's effect on performance, animal health and welfare, carcass merit and value, and economic profitability, as well as product yield and quality in beef x dairy calves, reared on differing planes of nutrition pre-weaning. Research Sub-Objective 2: Compare whole system performance, animal health and welfare, product yield and quality, and environmental and economic efficiency in beef and dairy-beef finishing production systems.
Project Methods
Investigate post-weaning finishing system's performance, animal health and welfare, carcass output, and economic efficiency, as well as product yield and quality in beef-dairy cross calves, reared on differing planes of nutrition pre-weaning. Each year, 350 steer calves in groups of 70 resulting from breeding Holstein dairy cows via artificial insemination using beef bulls with known genotypes and favorable EPDs will be acquired by a cooperating beef producer. The crossbred beef-dairy calves will be reared to weaning on milk replacer diets and milled starter diets at a calf rearing research facility in the Midwest (Land O' Lakes Calf Milk Research Facility at Grey Summit Missouri) from 0 to 12 weeks of age. Calves will be managed for either a low plane of nutrition (LPN, with standard recommended feeding rates of energy and protein in milk replacers and starter feeds) or high plane of nutrition (HPN, with enhanced feeding rates of milk solids, energy, and protein in milk replacers and starter feeds).At the OSU Willard Sparks Beef Research Center, alternating groups of steers acquired from Land O' Lakes Calf Milk Research Facility representing each rearing system combination will either be placed either directly on finishing diets (FIN) or on high-quality pasture and grown to approximately 300 kg before being placed on feed for finishing (GROW/FIN). All calves will be deemed finished when the average of that group reaches1.3 cm of back-fat and shipped to a commercial abattoir for harvest. Carcass data will be collected and the incidence of liver abscesses and lung lesion scores will be determined for all harvest groups. Performance, health, carcass, and economic data will be collected for all calves to fully determine the costs and benefits of each system and the economic thresholds for adoption of these systems by dairy producers, and the value of calves from each system for calf buyers.FIN finishing system. Steers in the FIN system will be sorted by BW within each previous pre-weaning treatment into 4 to 5 head pens and fed the same standard receiving diet. Steers will then be transitioned to a grower diet until calves 300 kg. At 300 kg, steers will then be transitioned to the final finishing diet supplying 12% crude protein and 1.3 mcal NEg/kg. Ultrasound carcass data will be collected on day 84 and 252.GROW/FIN Finishing System. Blocks of calves in the GROW/FIN system will be placed on pastures with high-quality forage with supplementation designed to drive gains of 1 kg/day during a 5 to 6 month grazing period. Calves will be weighed and processed at the OSU Willard Sparks Beef Research Center prior to being placed on pastures based on seasonal changes in forage quality. For instance calves grazing during the fall and winter will be placed on cool-season annual pastures while calves grazing during the spring and summer will be placed on combinations of warm-season annuals and perennial warm-season pastures. When calves reach 300 to 350 kg, they will be removed from pasture and returned to the OSU Willard Sparks Beef Research Center where they will be sorted by BW within each previous pre-weaning treatment into 4 to 5 head pens and fed the same standard receiving diet described for 1 week. Steers will then be transitioned to the finishing diet stepping up through the grower diets described previously for 7-days per step up grower diet. Steers will then be transitioned to the final finishing diet.All steers will be implanted with growth promotants following industry-standard protocols. The final 28 to 42-days of finishing steers will be fed ractopamine hydrochloride at a rate of 300 mg/day.Research Sub-Objective 2: Compare whole system performance, animal health and welfare, product yield and quality, and environmental and economic efficiency in beef and dairy-beef finishing production systems.This research will use steer calves produced by the Oklahoma State University Range Cattle Research Center for comparison to the dairy-beef steers used in Sub-Objective 1. The cowherds of approximately 200 fall calving (North Range) and 200 spring calving (South Range) cows of English breeding (Angus or Hereford x Angus ancestry). Cows are being bred via artificial insemination and natural service to Angus sires selected for similar growth and maternal milk traits. Each herd is expected to produce 60 AI sired steers for the post-weaning experiment.Calves from both calving seasons will be used through two entire production cycles, from weaning through finishing beginning with the 2022 calving seasons and culminating with the slaughter and carcass data collection of the 2023 calf crop in September 2024 (Spring calves) and February 2025 (Fall calves). At birth, all calves will be individually identified with the dam and males will be castrated.Following the preconditioning and stocker phase, steers will be transported to the OSU Willard Sparks Beef Research Center (WSBRC) for finishing. Upon arrival at the WSBRC, steers will be sorted into groups of 4 to 5 steers, by bodyweight and date of birth. Steers will be offered diets for a common step-up routine, as described previously. Diets will be stepped up similar to the Beef x dairy GROW/FIN system with feeding until they achieve an estimated 1.3-cm backfat and will be harvested at a commercial packing plant with individual carcass data collected.Extension Objective: Define and educate producers on best management practices of beef production from beef x dairy composites through virtual and in-person conferences, field days, farm tours, fact sheets, and webinars.Bio-economics and environmental impacts models will be developed using data and information generated from the proposed research. Extension and Outreach efforts will educate producers about the economic and environmental benefits of using best management practices identified through the research in Objective 1 through conventional and non-traditional methods. Extension efforts will occur throughout the duration of the grant.Using existing extension networks to involve producers and industry stakeholders in education about the field trials outlined in the research objectives, includingConferences and Continuing Education, field days, demonstrations, in-service training, along with nontraditional methods such asvirtual field days, online modules, and web posting of videos and Extension materials.Extension Sub-Objective 2: Develop stochastic bio-economic and environmental impact models to estimate the net cost-benefit of implementing beef on dairy-targeted genetics.Limited information exists to assist dairies in developing an economic strategy for their farm if they choose to incorporate beef genetics in the generation of beef-dairy cross calves. We will develop economic models and make online software available to estimate the economic return on crossbred steer calves given inputs such as breed, fertility, beef prices, and semen cost.We will conduct meetings and surveys will the different sectors of the beef production chain from the dairy to calf ranch to the feeder to the packer in order to understand the needs of each part of the production chain, the current challenges, and opportunities of the crossbred market and to help establish a crossbred market by identifying opportunities that can improve the stakeholder's profitability that can be captured by the premium paid to dairy farmers. We will conduct a webinar on the results of our surveys, making the webinar publicly available online. We will also conduct extension meetings with livestock and dairy advisors and other stakeholders from the dairy and beef industries to discuss the findings. Finally, we will publish fact sheets and extension articles on using beef breed bulls in dairy to help stakeholders to understand the needs of each link in the beef-dairy supply chain as well as additional challenges and opportunities.

Progress 07/01/23 to 06/30/24

Outputs
Target Audience:This research will reach professional animal scientists and veterinarians in University, Extension, Allied Industry, and consulting roles through extension educational events through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at professional meetings, and other outreach efforts, Beef producers in the cow-calf and beef finishing segments of production will be reached through field days, extension fact sheets and bulletins, and popular press articles. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Steers on trial have been used for in-service training in animal handling, live animal evaluation, and BQA techniques. Graduate students have been trained using these steer for sampling techniques, experimental design, and animal handling. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?A Field Day was held in conjunction with the Oklahoma Cattleman's Association at the Willard Sparks Beef Research Center on April 27, 2023. there were 75 in attendance the research from this projectwas highlighted and discussed. A series of online webinar meetings were held over 5 weeks from April 2, 2024 to May 2 2024. with presentations covering topics ranging from genetic selection of beef sires, to early life nutrtion and managment, to post weaning management and finishing, to carcass quality and economics. There were a total of 385 in attendance for the sessions, averageing 77 per session. Additionally, research findings have been presented at Field Days, Producer Tours, and Extension Conferences. This research has been highlighted in popular press magazine articles and newsletters. Research has been presented at Professional meetings of the Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science and the Plain Nutrition Council. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research is being summarized and written for publication in professional journals. After publication research results will be compiled into Extension fact sheets for use by the public. The economic and environmental impactanalysis of production systems using Beef x Dairy has been started and will be ready for publication in the next year.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research has been conducted and summarized for both Sub Objectives in Objective 1 (Research), Research at the Willard Sparks Beef Research Center is nearing completion, and production scale research is currently underway at the Klemme Range Research Station and the commercial feed yard Buffalo Feeders in northwest Oklahoma. Research has been presented at professional meetings (Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science, National Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, and the Plains Nutrition Council).

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Ally Grote and P. Beck. 2024. Effect of finishing system on growth, efficiency, and carcass quality of Dairy x Beef hybrids. 2024 KOMA Conference. February 12, 2024 Mt Vernon, MO and February 13, 2024 Poteau OK.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Beck, P. 2023. Managing Dairy-Beef Crossbreds during Finishing. Five States Beef Conference. Clayton, NM. September 18, 2023
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Grote, A. J., Z. N. Grigsby, T. Fanning, D. Turner, and P. A. Beck. 2024. Effects of grazing dairy-beef and native beef crossbred steers on native range with supplementation on growth. 2024 South Sect. Amer. Soc. Anim. Sci. Annual Meeting. J. Anim. Sci. 102 (Suppl 1):74-75 (Abstr) https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae019.086
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: New Ranchers Thursday Webinar Series Focuses on Management of Dairy-Beef Crossbreds in Beef Production from Conception to Consumption Cow-Calf Corner, The Newsletter, March 25, 2024 edition.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Genetics and Sire Selection for Successful Beef x Dairy Crossbreeding Systems, Bailey Basiel, Penn State University. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 4, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Targeted Nutrition: Building Better Beef Crosses Starts on Day 1 Dr. Olivia Genther-Schroeder. Purina Animal Nutrition. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 11, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Neonatal Management for Successful Dairy x Beef Crossbred Systems. Dr. Jennifer Spencer Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 11, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Dairy x Beef  Understanding Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics Dr. Casey Maxwell, Cactus Feeders. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 18, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Comparison of Carcass and Meat Traits between Dairy, Dairy x Beef, and Native Beef Calves. Dr. Blake Foraker, Washington State University. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. May 2, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Beef-Dairy Crossbred Cattle Production Website. Impact of Management of Composite Beef x Dairy Crossbreds on Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Beef Production. https://agriculture.okstate.edu/departments-programs/agecon/grant/
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Economics of Dairy x Beef Crossbred Systems. Dr. Eric DeVuyst Oklahoma State University. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 18, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Feedlot Q&A of Dairy x Beef Crossbred Calves. Tom Fanning, Buffalo Feeders. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 25, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Understanding Liver Abscess Prevalence in Beef x Dairy Feedlot Cattle, Dr. Kendall Samuelson, West Texas A&M University. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. April 25, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Post-Weaning Management: Effects of Performance, Efficiency, and Carcass Characteristics, Ally Grote and Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University. Ranchers Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series: Conception to Consumption: Dairy x Beef. May 2, 2024. https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/ranchers-thursday-lunchtime-series/conception-to-consumption-dairy-x-beef.html
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fitting Dairy x Beef Crosses into Beef Production Systems Cow-Calf Corner, The Newsletter April 24, 2023 edition
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Research Update: How do Dairy x Beef Crosses Fit into Beef Production Systems? Oklahoma Cowman Research Update. June, 2023


Progress 07/01/22 to 06/30/23

Outputs
Target Audience:This research will reach professional animal scientists and veterinarians in University, Extension, Allied Industry, and consulting roles through extension educational events through peer-reviewed publications, presentations at professional meetings, and other outreach efforts, Beef producers in the cow-calf and beef finishing segments of production will be reached through field days, extension fact sheets and bulletins, and popular press articles. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Steers on trial have been used for in-service training in animal handling, live animal evaluation, and BQA techniques. Graduate students have been trained using these steer for sampling techniques, experimental design, and animal handling. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research has been presented at professional meetings (Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science, National Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, and the Plains Nutrition Council). Additionally, research findings have been presented at Field Days, Producer Tours, and Extension Conferences. This research has been highlighted in popular press magazine articles and newsletters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The research will continue through next summer. All performance and carcass data will be summarized and published in conference proceedings and peer-reviewed journals.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Research has been conducted and summarized for both Sub Objectives in Objective 1 (Research), Research at the Willard Sparks Beef Research Center is nearing completion, and production scale research is currently underway at the Klemme Range Research Station and the commercial feed yard Buffalo Feeders in northwest Oklahoma. Research has been presented at professional meetings (Southern Section of the American Society of Animal Science, National Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science, and the Plains Nutrition Council). Additionally, research findings have been presented at Field Days, Producer Tours, and Extension Conferences. This research has been highlighted in popular press magazine articles and newsletters.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Grote, A. J., A. Womack, G. Farran, C. A. Robison, P. A. Beck, B. K. Wilson, T. J. Wistuba, and O. N. Schroeder. 2023. Effect of finishing system on growth, efficiency, and carcass quality of dairy x beef hybrids. J. Anim. Sci. 101(Suppl. 1):38-39. (Abstr). https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad068.044
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Grote, A. J., A. Womack, G. Farran, C. A. Robison, P. A. Beck, B. K. Wilson, T. J. Wistuba, and O. N. Schroeder. 2023. Effect of finishing system on growth, efficiency, and carcass quality of dairy x beef hybrids. Plains Nutrition Council 2023 Spring Conference Proceedings. pp. 104 (Abstr.).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2022 Citation: Womack, A., C. Robison, G. Farran, B. K. Wilson, O. Genther Schroder, T. J. Wistuba, and P. A. Beck. 2022. Factors affecting growth, efficiency, and carcass quality of finishing dairy x beef hybrids. J. Anim. Sci. 100 (Suppl. 3): 154-155. (Abstr.) https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac247.287
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Yes, You Can Put Beef-Dairy Crosses on Pasture CALF News (Interview) May 17, 2023
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Research Update: How do Dairy x Beef Crosses Fit into Beef Production Systems? Oklahoma Cowman Research Update. June, 2023
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fitting Dairy x Beef Crosses into Beef Production Systems Cow-Calf Corner, The Newsletter April 24, 2023 edition.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Research Update: OSU and OCA Hosting Beef Finishing Field Day at the Willard Sparks Beef Research Unit Oklahoma Cowman Research Update. April, 2022.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: A Research Update and Welcome to OSU Fed Cattle Field Day with Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, Stillwater, OK April 27, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Fitting Dairy x Beef Crosses into Beef Production Systems Fed Cattle Field Day with Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, Stillwater, OK April 27, 2023.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2023 Citation: Finishing Dairy Beef Cross Cattle Chihuahua Ag Trade Delegation OSU Sparks Center Tour. March 21, 2023