The Department of Agriculture is surveying farmers on the integration of dairy-bred beef animals into beef herds.

The survey, being distributed by ICBF, is examining the potential to add value to beef derived from the dairy herd.

Farmers are asked if they are concerned by the increased number of male dairy calves in recent years, as well as trying to better understand the barriers to dairy beef system integration on beef farms.

Farmers also get to rank future potential strategies for these animals which include options such as guaranteed price mechanisms and bonuses for better sourcing systems for quality calves.

Potential production models are also looked, at which include producer groups, a contract-rearing option where beef farmers would be paid by dairy farmers to finish dairy bred animals or a fully integrated birth to slaughter contract system between beef farmer, dairy farmer and processor.