DairyTalk 456: The 35% Threshold: When Beef Semen Starts Becoming a Dairy Farm Risk - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · May 31, 2026 · 21m

This podcast episode examines the economic risks behind aggressive beef-on-dairy breeding strategies. The featured analysis explains how strong revenues from crossbred calves can mask rising replacement costs and create long-term herd stability problems if internal heifer supply declines too far. Central to the discussion is the so-called 35% threshold, where excessive use of beef semen may begin to compromise future herd regeneration capacity. The article highlights how many dairy farms still base breeding decisions too heavily on current calf market conditions while underestimating the…