Dairy Beef value

Now that bull beef is gone will dairy farmers have to re-evaluate bull selection. In my opinion now extreme holstein bulls and jersey crosses will be worthless. Before I was of the opinion that dairy farmers should ignore value of bull. However we could reach the situation in the next year or two that some bull calves will have a negative value(disposal costs) as opposed to other dairy bred calves being worth a few bob.

We have seen the way marts have reacted to Board Bia/AA/He schemes/bonus by displaying relevant information. In a year or two will demand force them to display maternal and other breeding information of suck calves. Could this lead to an average beef value of 100+ of a difference between having a calf that need to be disposed as opposed to better quality calves. Add to maybe an extra cull value that may average 20/year for a cow. If this was the difference excluding costs would it mark a change in Dairy farming thinking.

On a 6500L cow if this might be equivlent to 1.8c/L after cost would it change the perception of ignoring beef value of calves. In larger herds the costs involved in calf rearing may not make it a viable alternative but what about smaller dairy herds who may consider that the payment is worth the required labour effort.

After this year I believe that a Jersey cross weanling is now worthless and it is only after he is carried for the first winter that his value enters positive terms. With QA only being paid on cattle capable of being finished at less than 30 months and on O= or better cattle this rules out 50% of present Friesian cattle. If maternal information is displayed on mart board this will also effect value of beef breed dairy calves. The perception out there by a lot of finishers is that ''the store is too dear as the quality is droping''

Traditionally I would have believed that a dairy farmers should ignore beef value of calves however now I am not sure. I am not advacoting the thinking that dairy farmers have a responsbility to beef farmers rather that over the next few years beef farmers will radically rethink calf value.