Breeding dairy cows to beef bulls has been becoming increasingly popular. To optimize the production of these beef-on-dairy animals, Purina Animal Nutrition Senior Technical Innovation Manager Dr. Olivia Genther-Schroeder believes it requires a new mindset. “A lot of the things we’ve been doing in dairy for a long time are positive; increasing sanitation, making sure we have adequate colostrum, etcetera,” said Genther-Schroeder. “These (beef-on-dairy) calves are generally more efficient and tend to be a bit healthier than a straight-bred Holstein, there is a misconception that we may not need to feed them as much or with lower quality ingredients, but our research determined it is better to provide high-quality ingredients, higher protein. They will really thrive under those conditions.”
