The financial data underscores the magnitude of this change. The article cites experts who highlight the dramatic increase in the average price of day-old, beef-on-dairy calves. The price has soared from approximately $650 three years ago to an impressive $1,400 today. This significant jump is a powerful piece of data journalism that illustrates the strong financial incentives for dairy farmers to adopt this new strategy and diversify their income streams beyond traditional milk production.

Industry analysts are confident that this trend is here to stay. Experts like Phil Plourd and Dan Basse are quoted in the article, both suggesting that financial incentives for beef-on-dairy will continue to be strong for the foreseeable future, despite potential market fluctuations. Basse emphasizes that this is a “structural change,” not a passing fad, made possible by modern technologies like sexed semen and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This makes it a crucial development for bridging the supply gap in the US beef cow herd.

The article provides a real-world case study of this strategy in action, highlighting the experience of McCarty Family Farm, a premier Kansas dairy. McCarty Family Farm has successfully integrated beef-on-dairy into its operation and found it to be a substantial part of their non-milk income. The family’s experience shows that this approach not only bolsters profitability but also enhances genetic selection within their herd, a key insight for the entire international dairy industry.