Beef-on-dairy crossbreeding reshapes calf nutrition strategies

1 December 2025

5 minute read

By: Sarah Mikesell

The rise of beef-on-dairy crossbreeding has not only transformed how farmers think about bull calves – it’s also changing the way dairy operations approach calf care and nutrition from the first day of life. About 70% of US dairy farms are now incorporating beef genetics into their herd to improve carcass quality and feed efficiency. 

Once considered a byproduct of dairy farming, bull calves are now an integral part of a more profitable and performance-focused system, according to Dr. Tamilee Adolph, dairy nutritionist at ADM Animal Nutrition.

“The rise in beef on dairy and especially the economics associated with it has definitely changed how people perceive bull calves. More importantly, it’s changed their focus on how they take care of those calves,” said Dr. Adolph. “While bull calves once received less attention, farms today are investing more in their care and nutrition. That effort is paying off, as well-raised calves are now bringing more value, especially in today’s market.”

Today, those improvements are accelerating, driven by the higher market value of dairy-beef crosses and the recognition that early nutrition has long-term effects on growth performance and carcass quality.

Top-notch care for bull calves

For decades, the dairy industry prioritized heifer calves which are the future of the milking herd, while bull calves often received less nutritional investment. But that dynamic has shifted.

“The rise of the dairy-beef cross calves has really put an emphasis on making sure that we are giving top-notch care to dairy-beef calves,” Dr. Adolph explained. “When I go on dairies, before there used to be a different feeding program for bull calves versus heifer calves. Now, most of the time it doesn't matter whether it’s a male or a female calf when it's born. We're making sure that every single calf born on a dairy has a great colostrum program, and they're getting high-quality colostrum very quickly.”

Colostrum, rich in antibodies and nutrients, remains the cornerstone of calf health. A well-executed colostrum program supports immunity, reduces disease risk and sets the stage for better calf growth. Dr. Adolph says the difference in attention and management of bull calves is one of the biggest shifts she’s observed.

“What we're seeing is if we get them more strategic nutrition earlier in life, those calves grow better and they're a lot healthier,” she said. “If farmers are willing to give bull calves a higher-quality milk program with a higher nutrient profile and a higher volume of milk, they are going to grow better.”

Nutrition as an investment

Historically, dairy producers approached bull calf feeding programs with an eye toward simplicity and cost savings. But as the economics of beef-on-dairy have evolved, so has the willingness to invest in better nutrition.

“Previously, farms wanted to keep bull calf feeding programs simple and very cost-effective,” Dr. Adolph said. “People were a little hesitant to provide some of the specialty additives that help calf robustness, such as additives shown to impact gut health. Now there’s more interest in utilizing specialty additives and making sure those calves get off to a great start.”

Incorporating feed additives into calf nutrition programs can help stabilize digestion and immunity during the critical pre-weaning phase that can help set the calf up for a positive transition to solid feed. Producers are beginning to see them not as “extras” but as tools to improve overall performance and consistency.

Feeding for growth and health

When it comes to feeding programs, Dr. Adolph said one of the biggest changes is the parity between heifer and beef-on-dairy calf nutrition plans.

“Establishing a great colostrum program for newborn calves is job number one. When bull calves held lower market value, they were often placed on alternative milk programs—typically involving reduced volume or shorter feeding duration,”  she said. “That’s changed now and with dairy-beef calves we're really putting an additional emphasis on the growth and health of those calves. Because they do have such a high value, we want to make sure they have a great milk program.” 

Many dairies have a good feel for what heifer calves need, so they are mirroring the proven feeding strategies used for heifers with their bull calves.

“Producers are putting dairy-beef calves on very similar feeding programs as to what we have heifer calves on – high-quality milk and some specialty additives to make sure that the calves get off to a great start,” she explained.

This alignment underscores a broader shift toward uniform, science-based calf nutrition strategies that prioritize long-term growth and animal wellness.

Early nutrition’s connection to carcass quality

Researchers and nutritionists are also beginning to explore how early calf nutrition influences carcass quality later in life. Adolph pointed to a recent study that offers new insights.

“Carcass quality is an area that we're going to learn a lot about in the future,” she said. “There have been a few studies that have come out – one interesting study from Iowa State University looked at feeding a different starch level to see if that affected beef on dairy calves as they grew through to slaughter. What they found is that with a lower starch level, they saw fewer liver abscesses in the animals.”

That line of research, she believes, will continue to expand. 

“I believe we're going to continue to do more research to look at starch level, form of starch, how much we give them, or whole grain versus cracked grains,” she said. “We need to work on this area of nutrition to see if we can improve the carcass quality and continue to reduce some of the negative impacts like liver abscesses that are being seen at an increased rate in finished dairy-beef crosses.”

For producers, this means nutritional decision-making at the calf stage could have even more measurable impacts all the way to the packing plant.

Beef on dairy is here to stay

While market dynamics will continue to shift, Adolph is confident that the beef-on-dairy model is not a passing fad.

“I feel certain this trend is here to stay,” notes Dr. Adolph. “I recognize in the future we're going to see some fluctuation in prices –  whether or not the value will stay quite at the level it is now, remains to be seen – but the reality is, the value of calves will likely come down at least a little bit. However, I believe we're never going to go back to the lower values that we saw with the straight bred calves.”

She attributes that stability to the proven advantages of crossbred calves in both feedlot and carcass performance. 

“These crossbred calves are going to continue to hold a higher value,” she said. “Because what we have seen is those calves do tend to be healthier, they do tend to grow faster and are more feed efficient. They really are better in the feedlot, and we're getting more meat yield and can get great quality grades from them as well.”

Looking ahead, Adolph expects the industry will continue to refine feeding programs for beef-on-dairy calves, integrating data from ongoing research into starch utilization, gut health and immune development. The ultimate goal: to balance growth performance with animal health and welfare while maximizing feed efficiency and carcass value.

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