| DCH - 5/26/2026 08:30
Dairy is no more or less important than it has been. Dairy cows and beef cows have similar gestation.
The difference?? Management! Dairy farmers know how to manage cattle. They understand production, efficiency, AND premiums. Not the imagination of the beef producer. Ask a western cow/calf guy— they all think they raise white table cloth type beef. Reality?? They are raising cull cow type meat and then trying to get it excessively fat— to the point the packer has to bring in trimmings from other countries just to have something other than tallow in the hamburger package.
In the meantime— what was acceptable production 20 years ago is poverty road for a dairy today.
Fewer cows producing more, higher quality milk. More milk over lifetime and annually. They moved the cows off grass. They stopped feeding the heifers to get by, and their epds are much more accurate (similar management in confinement). The beef industry will not catch up in the US. The romance novel built around western cow welfare prevents that. But go to Brazil, Argentina, and learn. They have passed us on quantity and will soon pass the US on Quality. No welfare!
US milk producers are 3rd tier honestly just go to New zealand those guys know how to raise cattle on grass like God intended! Midwest dairy farmers are just doing it all wrong with there concrete and silage choppers need to learn how to use electric fence and good grass genetics like those New zealand boys who got it all figured out. Thats why they get paid a premium for their milk. Not like that watered down Holstein swill with little flavor and low fat content. Jersey cattle make milk that you can actually taiste! Dont forget high demand for their milk so high quality cheese can be made out of it as well!
My banker always says if you sell hay to dairy farm never leave without a check in hand. He is a smart man.
Forgive me I got off topic. We were talking about hedging cattle but couldnt miss a opportunity to talk about how good New Zealand is. |
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