DairyTalk 181: Cash Today or Cows Tomorrow - the Real Trade-Off in Beef-on-Dairy - by Helmut Demmelhuber

Beef-on-dairy can be a goldmine — or a dead end. New research
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows that
top-performing herds earn over $6,200 per month from
beef-on-dairy calves, while others gain nothing. With 72% of U.S.
dairies now using beef genetics and replacement heifer numbers at
record lows, the margin for error is shrinking fast. This episode
explains why a minimum 21-day pregnancy rate of 20% is critical,
how genomic testing helps decide which cows get beef versus sexed
dairy semen, and why long-term success depends on balancing
short-term calf premiums with a secure replacement pipeline.