Feeder calf prices are running hot this year and present an opportunity for farmers to support their dairy operation with a sideline in high quality beef calves. But calf markets can be fickle, and semen decisions are made far in advance of selling the calf. Fonterra are working with Silver Fern Farms to simplify beef sire selection, helping beef add value to dairy operations without distracting from core business.
We have selected top-performing beef bulls that deliver for both dairy farmers and finishers. These bulls are easy calving and produce colour-marked calves that will grow well. Selection has been guided by the latest data and tools from Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Using these bulls is a key step in producing high-quality beef from high performing dairy farms.
Silver Fern Farms have established a dairy-beef programme, launched in March 2026, offering a premium for steers and heifers of dairy-origin. The creation of quality dairy beef calves is key to growing this programme, and Fonterra are working with Silver Fern Farms to position Fonterra calves from the selected sires as the preferred animal for this programme. This is a significant step toward creating more options for our Non-Replacement Calves (NRC) – but success starts on-farm.
When you are using beef semen for this mating, using the selected sires will give you and your calf buyers confidence in performance. Fonterra recommends working with your breeding company to identify the opportunities to use these selected bulls strategically in your lower merit cows, to power up your dairy replacements as well as your beef calves.
Selected sires are available from LIC, CRV and GENEZ, with more detail on the bulls and how to access them available by following the link below.
For farmers, the benefits stack up:
- Safe, easy dairy beef breeding – confidence in easy-calving sires that colour-mark calves
- Stronger demand from rearers – driven by growth performance and premium potential
- Added value if finishing calves yourself – genetics that grow efficiently and finish well
- This collaboration is about building a future-focused dairy beef value chain – and it starts with mating decisions made now.
For help with your breeding decisions, contact your breeding company or check out our recommended sires at nzfarmsource.co.nz/animals/performance-beef-sires.
