Beef on Dairy — boost your low-performing cows

What do you do with the 60-70% of your dairy cows that won't be used for the next generation? How do you avoid breeding too many low-value heifers and small bull calves that are unattractive for a beef producer?

The use of beef genetics on dairy cows is growing rapidly around the world. If you've already tried Beef on Dairy in your herd, you've likely experienced the advantages:

• Bigger, healthier calves with a higher carcass value and ease of calving compared to traditional dairy calves.
• Faster growing offspring enabling the beef producer to raise more calves in a year.
• Lower rearing expenses and reduced replacement in your dairy herd.
• Better animal welfare and less climate impact due to a more targeted and sustainable breeding strategy.

When you combine beef male semen on your lower-ranking cows with female sexed semen on your best heifers, you get the most profitable results.

In our Nordic Beef on Dairy Index (NBDI), you'll find information about the bull's ability to pass on desirable traits to its offspring.

The NBDI is based on data from the offspring of the bulls when the bulls have been used on dairy cows. The index works across breeds, focusing on two main areas: Birth and Growth.

The Birth index is the first area to focus on when you select bulls. It consists of two evaluations:

• Ease of calving
• Calf survival

The Growth index consists of three sub-indices:

• Daily carcass gain
• Carcass conformation score
• Carcass fat score

The goal of the NBDI is to ensure you the highest profitability.