DAIRY BEEF CROSSBREEDING HAS DRASTICALLY INCREASED IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY TO HELP DAIRY PRODUCERS BETTER MANAGE ANIMAL INVENTORY AND INCREASE THEVALUE OF YOUNG CALVES THAT ARE FED IN BEEF CATTLE OPERATIONS. FEEDING MANAGEMENT WILL IMPACT ANIMAL GROWTH AND FEED COSTS WHICH DIRECTLY IMPACT PROFITABILITY FOR THE DAIRY AND BEEF PRODUCERS. FEEDING ALSO WILL IMPACT MEAT QUALITY AND EATING QUALITY FOR CONSUMERS. HOWEVER, LITTLEIS KNOWN ABOUT IMPACTS OF FEEDING STRATEGIES ON DAIRY BEEF CROSSBRED CATTLE GROWTH AND THE FINAL MEAT PRODUCT THAT CONSUMERS PURCHASE.TO ADDRESSTHE LACK OF INFORMATION, ON-FARM EXTENSION SURVEYS AND RESEARCH WITH WISCONSIN DAIRY AND BEEF PRODUCERS WILL BE CONDUCTED ALONG WITH A CONTROLLED FEEDING STUDY TO EVALUATE HOW DIFFERENT FEEDING PROGRAMS (NORMAL OR HIGHER MILK FEEDING; AND USE OF SHORT OR LONG GROWING PERIOD PRIOR TO FEEDING A FINISHING RATION) AFFECT ANIMAL GROWTH AND MEAT QUALITY. BASED ON THE RESEARCH FINDINGS AND MANAGEMENT SURVEY RESULTS, EXTENSION RESOURCES(ARTICLES, FACTSHEETS, AND PRESENTATIONS) WILL BE DEVELOPED AND PRESENTED AT ON-FARM WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, AND WEBINARS TO HELP PRODUCERS UNDERSTAND CURRENT PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT. ECONOMIC BUDGETING TOOLS WILL ALSO BE UPDATED TO ALLOW PRODUCERS TO MAKE SPECIFIC BUDGETS FOR DAIRY BEEF CROSSBREDS TO HELP IMPROVE PROFITABILITY. THIS WORK WILL PROVIDE APPLICABLE INFORMATION THAT DAIRY AND BEEF PRODUCERS CAN USE TO IMPROVE CURRENT MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING PROGRAMS TO INCREASE PROFITABILITY FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS AND SUPPORT MEAT PROCESSOR AND CONSUMER DEMAND FOR MEAT PRODUCTS FROM DAIRY BEEF CROSSBRED CATTLE.THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROPOSED INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE BOTH DAIRY AND BEEF CATTLE PRODUCERS WITH MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES, TOOLS, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE GROWTH AND CARCASS QUALITY OF HOLSTEIN BEEF CROSS CATTLE LEADING TO GREATER PROFITABILITY FOR BOTH INDUSTRIES AND TO IMPROVE MEAT QUALITY FOR CONSUMERS.