Cross-calves trend boon for dairy farmers

Article from NZ Herald

The trend for dairy farmers to move away from breeding bobby calves in favour of quality dairy/beef cross calves which are fetching record prices, is reflected in the success of feeder calf sales in Dannevirke.

Calves have been in demand from rearers, finishers and the meat processing industry and with 4-day-old bobby calves fetching between $20 and $40 on the bobby calf truck, the payback for quality dairy/beef bull calves selling at $150 to $300 has been a win-win for dairy farmers, Doug Lineham, project manager for the dairy beef integration project said.

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Final Report confirms potential of dairy beef integration

Article from Beef+Lamb NZ

The final report of a five year study into the use of quality beef genetics in a dairy beef supply chain was released today, confirming the potential for dairy farmers to produce high value calves with minimal calving problems using proven beef genetics.

The aim of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Dairy-Beef Integration Programme was to analyse and demonstrate the benefits and risks involved throughout the supply chain in order to increase the supply of quality calves to the finishing industry.

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Turning bobby calves into a valued product

Article by Andrew Jolly for NZFarmer

We often refer to the latent potential of “NZ Inc.” and the fact we do not tap into the full value of what New Zealand farmers produce and the way that they produce it.

Are bobby calves an opportunity that could add millions to our sector? I recently completed the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and my research project set about answering this question.

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