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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMilking Red, Jersey and Holstein-cross cows, the Philp family hasn\u2019t had the option of selling \u201cblack and white\u201d heifers to the live export market to diversify their income, like many other dairy farmers. ABS Beef InFocus has enabled them to boost the value of their calves while also providing a market for male and female offspring. \u201cPreviously, the value of bobby calves was $20, these InFocus calves are worth $200 at 10 days old,\u201d Josh said. \u201cWe could potentially turn what was a $20,000 business into a $80,000-$100,000 a year business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ABS Beef InFocus is an evolution of the traditional beef on dairy programs in Australia, with the beef semen developed through a comprehensive breeding program to ensure the highest value progeny from dairy animals. InFocus delivers healthier feeder cattle that grow faster, efficiently convert feed and deliver high yielding, quality meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Philp\u2019s do not run herd bulls, all animals are bred via artificial insemination across nine weeks. Female replacements for the milking herd are bred from about 200 of the milkers using sexed semen. The rest of the herd is joined to ABS Beef InFocus. Cow health is one of the most important traits for determining which animals are mated with sexed semen. Josh uses cow manager tags on the milkers to help record important details that assist this selection process. \u201cCows have to have had at least two (reproductive) cycles, be in 40 days-plus, and had to have no calving difficulties, no health issues \u2013 including mastitis and lameness \u2013 since calving,\u201d he said. \u201cBasically, if that is the case, they get a sexed semen straw.\u201d This year 400 sexed semen straws, plus a small amount of InFocus was used across the first 2.5 weeks of joining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calving a large herd in a tight seasonal window, Josh said the ability to sell the ABS Beef InFocus calves at ten days old was a bonus. \u201cA contract calf rearer picks them up, most of ours go at ten days to two weeks old, as we don\u2019t have the capabilities to rear 250 heifer calves ourselves plus all the beef ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Initially cautious about using beef semen to breed crossbred dairy animals, Josh was pleasantly surprised when there were no calving issues during last year\u2019s trial period. His trepidation about the appearance of the crossbred cows\u2019 progeny was also unfounded. \u201cThe majority came out black, some had a little bit of a red tinge through them,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the backgrounder was happy with them, and they are growing well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n For more information about the ABS Beef InFocus program and to find out how Beef InFocus could generate a second income stream for your dairy operation, download our Beef InFocus information pack at the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www-dev.absglobal.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2021\/09\/PHOTO-2021-08-18-11-48-21.jpg?resize=1024,461\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWant to find out more?<\/h3>\n