Understanding the production of beef from dairy systems in the UK: An analysis of trends. ADAS- EAAP Symposium

The breeding technologies and programmes available to the dairy sector are allowing more dairy beef cross cattle (DBX) to be produced annually in the United Kingdom. This increase in DBX production is being driven by many factors including stakeholders, policy and public demand for high welfare and sustainable UK cattle production systems.

This paper draws on comprehensive data from the UK cattle sector to analyse how DBX production has changed over time and what role the different actors play in the breeding decisions. It utilises an interdisciplinary approach based on 47 semi structured interviews with farmers and stakeholders in the UK, and an analysis of the UK Cattle Tracing System database. The aim of the study is to provide further insights into risks and opportunities for future development of the cattle industry and to provide an insight to identify trends in the sector and underlying influencing factors. The results show that DBX are becoming an increasingly important production system in the UK cattle sector. The number of DBX animals slaughtered increased by 31% from 2010 to 2020. DBX animals are embedded in systems ranging from terminal intensive production to extensive breeding farms. The growth in DBX was accompanied by a growing reliance on two key breeds: the Aberdeen Angus and British Blue. Using interview data, we identify factors that influence breed selection for DBX. In the UK, DBX offers an opportunity to increase value of dairy calves to be marketed as beef animals. Farmers emphasise calving ease and ensuring marketability of the DBX calf as important considerations for breeding selection.
Our analysis highlights both the challenges and opportunities for optimising the DBX production to meet demand for high welfare and sustainable cattle. This includes achieving a better consensus in the breeding strategies, considering marketability and profitability both for the dairy (breeding) and beef (rearing) farmers involved in DBX production, and an increased involvement of genomic selection for better beef production traits in DBX animals.


KEYWORDS
breeding
breed selection
beef on dairy