Michael Looper, Ph.D.,
Extension Dairy Specialist
New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, NM
Large quantities of wholesome, quality milk are the major goals of dairy producers. However, dairymen also contribute to the beef supply each year through elimination of cull cows and bulls (non-fed beef). The National Non-Fed Beef Quality Audit (NNFBQA) found that approximately one-third of the total non-fed beef production originates from dairy cows, and one-half of all cows processed for beef in the U.S. are dairy cattle. Furthermore, six million dairy calves enter the food chain as feeder or veal calves each year. The NNFBQA study also concluded that dairy producers were losing approximately $70 for every cow and bull marketed due to quality defects. The bottom line concluded from the report was it pays to do things right, on the farm, during transit, at auction and in the packing plant.
A popular misconception is that the majority of beef from cull cattle is used for ground beef; therefore, it is thought that handling, and the timely marketing of dairy cattle is of less concern. This notion is inaccurate! Surprisingly, meats from the rib, loin and round from cull animals are removed and marketed as higher-quality cuts of beef. Products from the rib and round areas are used to form deli and steak sandwich meats. Ribeye steaks and tenderloins from cull cows and bulls are marketed to “family” steakhouses.
There are a number of management and marketing strategies that producers may implement to prevent monetary losses and improve the quality of beef from culled animals.
Injection Site Lesions
One of the major quality defects in culled dairy cattle is injection site lesions and abscesses. Injection site lesions cost the U.S. beef industry $0.66 per head or an annual total of $4.2 million dollars. A Colorado State University (CSU) study found 58% of rounds from dairy carcasses had at least one injection site. A majority of these abscesses were in the back of the leg (Figure 1) and were the result of swelling associated with intramuscular injections. Dairy producers should avoid intramuscular injections whenever other routes of administration are available (i.e., subcutaneous). If no alternative, administer all injectable products in the neck or shoulder region to reduce the incidence of injection site legions. Furthermore, no more than 10 cc of any product should be administered in any one-injection site. Young cattle are just as susceptible to lesions. Intramuscular injections of young calves were still present in the carcass 380 days after injection in one CSU study.
Drug Residues
Dairy cows and veal calves are the two classes of cattle with the greatest violation of antibiotic residues according to the USDA National Residue Monitoring program. Occurrence of antibiotic residues is due to an inadequate clearance time between administration and slaughter, and extra-label usage of health products. Extra-labeled product use must be avoided unless a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship has been established. Furthermore, remember withdrawal time is often not the same for both meat and milk.
Lame Cattle
Disabled cows, or “downers”, are major challenges to the entire beef industry. An average of $70 is lost for every disabled or non-ambulatory cow processed. Processing costs increase because of excessive trimming due to increased bruising and the likelihood that the carcass will be condemned. Dairy producers can decrease the incidence of downer cows by selling cull animals prior to deterioration of health. This will increase economic returns and more importantly, safeguard the image of the dairy industry.
Hide Damage
Hides from dairy cows are valuable to the tanning industry due to their large surface area, and account for approximately 8% of the value of fed cattle (National Beef Quality Audit, 1991). Hide defects among dairy cows cost producers $5.21 per head, or 16.6 million dollars annually. Damage to hides usually results from brands, scratches or punctures and (or) insect/parasite infestation. Maintaining milking and handling facilities so as to eliminate sharp, protruding objects will reduce the incidence of scratched or scarred hides. Likewise, the implementation of an effective external parasite program should reduce insect and parasite damage to hides. If possible, moving the brand from the rib to the rump region will eliminate some hide damage.
Body Condition
According to the NNFBQ study, approximately 5% of cull dairy cattle had insufficient body condition (BCS < 1) at the time of slaughter, while 3% of all dairy cattle had excess fat cover. Cows in poor condition are more susceptible to bruising and possible injury during transit from the auction to the packer. Cows with excess body condition must be trimmed in order to market a more desirable beef product. Managing thin cows to obtain adequate body condition and preventing good conditioned cows from becoming too fat will increase carcass quality and net profit.
Manage, Monitor and Market
The keys to improving the quality and economic value of cull cattle are management, monitoring and marketing. If dairy producers manage cattle to minimize quality defects by eliminating injection site lesions and drug residues, economic returns from beef harvested from cull dairy cattle will increase. Likewise, monitoring herd health and body condition should reduce the incidence of downer cows and condemned carcasses. Marketing of cull animals in a timely and prudent manner is of utmost importance. Cows or bulls that have outlived their productive life are no longer an asset, but a liability. These types of cattle need to be liquidated in order to enhance the quality of beef harvested and improve economic returns to dairy producers.
References
Dairymen: Quality Beef Producers. Midwest Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center fact
sheet. Minneapolis, MN.
Eustice, R. F. 1998. Dairy Farmers Have a Stake in Beef Quality. Hoard’s Dairyman,
December, 1998. pp. 848-849.
Gibb, J. 1999. Restoring Beef’s Competitiveness in the New Millennium. University of
Arizona 14th Annual Southwest Nutrition and Management Conference, Phoenix, AZ, February 25-26, 1999. pp. 45-53.
It’s Your Product. Injection-site Quality Control in Dairy Cows fact sheet. National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
National Non-Fed Beef Quality Audit. 1994. Improving the Consistency and
Competitiveness of Non-Fed Beef and the Salvage Value of Cull Cows and Bulls. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
National Non-Fed Beef Quality Audit. 1995. Opportunities for Enhancing Value and
Improving the Quality of Beef. Special Section: Dairy Cattle. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.