Condition of dairy cull cows headed to slaughter for meat production is improving

The condition of dairy cull cows headed to slaughter for meat production is improving, according to the 2016 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) commissioned by the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, results of which were shared last week at a news conference today at the 51stWorld Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis.According to the 2016 results, lameness in cull cattle has improved significantly.  Today, 76 percent of cull cattle are identified as sound, compared to just 51 percent in 2007, which was the last time the report audited cull cows. Body condition scores of cull cattle have also improved: Only 9.3 percent of cattle were identified as “too thin,” compared to 22 percent in 2007. Additionally, the number of blemishes, condemnations and other attributes that detract from value remain minimal.Today, dairy cows represent 20 percent of the U.S. beef supply, a sharp increase from 5.5 percent in 2011.“As dairy cows continue to grow as an integral part of the U.S. beef supply, these results demonstrate that producers are dedicated not only to producing a safe, wholesome, high-quality milk product but also to showing that same dedication to the meat produced by the dairy sector,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “The FARM Program’s partnership with BQA has produced valuable resources that help nurture an environment of continuous improvement for beef and dairy cattle.”