Today’s forward-thinking dairies are leveraging strategic beef on dairy breeding not just as a trend, but as a smart business move. This approach is driven by a strong beef market, improved reproductive precision and the opportunity to diversify income streams. With fertility rates on the rise and data guiding every decision, beef on dairy matings – especially with composite sires – are helping dairies optimize both efficiency and profitability.
When implementing a beef on dairy program, the genetic options can be overwhelming. What is the right strategy? What beef breed is best? That decision often comes down to a balancing act, as performance, profitability and predictability are all key. One option that’s often overlooked – but rapidly gaining attention – is the use of composite beef breeds to create those terminal crossbred calves.
Composite breeds are well-established in the beef industry, but for many dairy producers it may still feel like new territory. Let’s explore this approach to better understand why it can be a game-changer for strategic breeding programs focused on terminal calf production.
What is a composite breed?
By definition, a composite breed is a distinct population created by strategically combining two or more pure breeds in a planned and consistent way. Unlike traditional crossbreeding, composites are bred over generations to stabilize their genetics, maintaining uniform genetic makeup while preserving a high degree of heterosis (hybrid vigor).
This results in fewer surprises, more consistency, and long-term advantages, especially when composite sires are used on uniform dairy cows to produce terminal calves with reliable, high-quality performance.
Why composite breeds work in beef-on-dairy programs
Dairy cows provide an ideal foundation for a strategic crossbreeding program because of their genetic uniformity and reproductive predictability. When a well-designed composite beef sire is introduced into the mix, producers get the best of both worlds:
- Consistent, healthy calves
- Increased muscling
- Faster growth
- Improved feed efficiency
Consider a popular breed
One of the most widely used and well-documented composite breeds in the U.S. is the Stabilizer™, developed by Leachman Cattle. Originally inspired by the USDA’s Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) II project in the 1970s, this breed has been refined into a multibreed composite combining British (Angus, Red Angus) and Continental (Simmental, Gelbvieh and South Devon) breeds.
Why is it beneficial to include both British and Continental breeds?
British beef breeds (such as Angus and Red Angus) are known for their excellent marbling, calving ease, maternal traits and early maturity, making them ideal for improving meat quality and reproductive efficiency. However, they typically have slower growth rates and less muscling compared to Continental breeds.
Continental breeds (like Simmental, Charolais and Gelbvieh) excel in growth rate, muscling and carcass yield, but may present challenges with calving ease, marbling, and temperament.
When combined in composite breeding programs, the British and Continental groups complement each other. British breeds contribute quality and manageability, while Continental breeds enhance performance and yield. This makes the blend especially valuable in terminal-focused systems like beef-on-dairy programs.
What benefits does a composite breed bring to a beef on dairy program?
Utilizing a composite breed such as Stabilizers™ offers many key benefits to a beef on dairy program. Here are a few:
- Enhanced fertility
Multi-breed composites often bring increased conception rates and earlier maturity, critical advantages to any reproduction program. This can lead to reduced overall semen costs (fewer units needed), cows with fewer open days and increased labor efficiency. - Dam-specific sire selection
Different dairy breeds require different sire traits to produce an ideal beef on dairy calf. Stabilizer™ sires are selected with the dam’s breed in mind; there are specific options for Holstein, Jersey and Holstein × Jersey cows. This tailored approach enhances calf quality and complements each dairy herd’s genetic profile. - Calving with ease
Stabilizer™ sires are known for shorter gestation lengths compared to single-breed beef sires. Specific calving-ease sires are also available for each dam breed, allowing for mating strategies that reduce calving difficulty and support quicker returns to production. - Hybrid vigor from day one
Heterosis contributes to healthier, more vigorous calves with improved immune response, greater survivability and robust early growth. These traits are critical in today’s streamlined calf-raising systems. Various studies note a double-digit advantage for growth rates and weaning weights. A specific example found in the USDA and MARC research saw crossbred calves (e.g., Angus × Simmental) gaining 25-50 pounds more at weaning than their purebred counterparts under similar management conditions. - Predictable, consistent calves
Composite breeds lead to greater calf uniformity when compared to traditional rotational or first-generation crossbreeding. This consistency reduces discounts and increases buyer confidence in these terminal calves.
Smarter crossbreeding starts with the right breed
Choosing the right breed is a decision that impacts the performance, marketability and value of your beef on dairy calves. Using a composite breed like Stabilizer™ sires in your beef on dairy program isn’t about trial and error; it’s a strategic way to stack the odds in your favor. When you want fertility, growth, calving ease and consistency, why settle for just one breed? A well-designed composite brings it all together.
Boost your program with a proven composite. Join the FeedWise™ ONYX™ Beef on Dairy program today.