Dairy Beef Short Course to Feature Management of Dairy-Beef Crossbreds

By Beth Doran

Feedlot producers are encouraged to attend the 2025 Dairy Beef Short Course on March 25 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year’s program features unique aspects of managing dairy-beef crossbreds such as implants, vaccinations, early calf nutrition and feedlot economics. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Beef Specialist Beth Doran said that while dairy-beef crossbreds differ from straight-bred beef cattle, they have some positive aspects.

“Dairy-beef crossbreds tend to have more marbling and better yield grades, although on average there is more sickness and greater carcass price discounts,” she said. “However, dairy-beef animals can provide opportunities for cattle feeders such as source verification and pen uniformity.”

The Dairy Beef Short Course features a broad range of topics and speakers.

• Update on Implants – Zachary Smith, South Dakota State University
• Vaccination Management – Jennifer Spencer, Texas A&M University
• Preparing Dairy-Beef Calves for the Feedlot – Gail Carpenter, Iowa State University
• Research on Dairy-Beef Crossbreds in the Feedlot – Garland Dahlke, Iowa State University
• Economics of Dairy-Beef in the Feedlot – Melanie Pimentel-Concepcion, Michigan State University
• Hoof Lameness in Feedlot Cattle – Sara Erickson, TELUS Agricultural

The short course will be held at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. The agenda and other details are available on the I-29 Moo U website.

Registration will be available online by Jan. 31. The fee is $75, plus $15 if a printed copy of the proceedings is desired. The student fee is $20. Registration closes March 14.

The Dairy Beef Short Course is offered by I-29 Moo University -- a collaboration of Iowa State University, University of Nebraska, University of Minnesota, and South Dakota State University, and sponsoring organizations.

For more information, contact Doran by phone at 712-737-4230 or email at doranb@iastate.edu.