ORANGE CITY, Iowa – 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.
