In beef production, genetics play a critical role in management and profitability. To overcome challenges in accessing data to make breeding and feeding decisions, the Canadian Beef Breed Council (CBBC) embarked on an initiative called the Canadian Beef Improvement Network (CBIN), which will help to standardize information across breeds. Relevant Links: Genetic IQ: Defining Traits That Matter in Your Herd (article) Keeping Production Data to Improve the Supply Chain (webinar recording) EPDs: Wha...
Nov 26, 2024•8 min•Ep. 47
University of Saskatchewan researchers evaluated the performance of mature, pregnant cows winter-grazed on snaplage residue, high-moisture corn stover or whole-plant barley over a two year period. Relevant links: Extended Grazing (webpage) Evaluating Forage Species for Stockpiled Forages (fact sheet)...
Nov 19, 2024•10 min•Ep. 46
Harvesting, storing and delivering a beef herd’s winter rations are the largest expense for most operations. Even small improvements in a winter feed system can result in significant feed cost savings. Relevant Links: 11 Ways to Avoid Feed Waste This Winter (article) Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis (webpage) Stored Forages (webpage) Extended Grazing (webpage) Body Condition Scoring (webpage) How to Manage Body Condition of Beef Cows to Improve Profit (video)...
Nov 12, 2024•8 min•Ep. 45
With winter rolling in across Canada, you may be turning to extended grazing to help keep cattle out on pasture longer. Grazing standing corn has many benefits, including being a high-energy forage, but can also pose animal health risks if not managed properly. Relevant links: Seven Tips for Grazing Corn (article) Extended Grazing (webpage) Strategies for Fall and Winter Grazing (article) Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis (webpage) 10 Tips for Planting Corn (article) CowBytes Ration Balancing S...
Nov 05, 2024•7 min•Ep. 44
Corn is a standard ingredient in feedlot diets in Eastern Canada. With ambitious breeding efforts underway to develop short-season corn varieties, new research has evaluated replacement of barley ingredients with corn in Western Canadian feedlot diets. Relevant Links: Feed Grains for Beef Cattle (webpage) Nutrition in Beef Cattle (webpage) Optimizing Feedlot Efficiency (webpage)...
Oct 29, 2024•10 min•Ep. 43
The benefits of minimizing stress for beef cattle are wide ranging. The good news is reducing stress is entirely possible. In many cases, inexpensive changes or tweaks can benefit herd – and family – dynamics. Relevant Links: Patience, Silence & Observation – Practical Tips to Reducing Stress When Handling Cattle (article) Cattle Transport (webpage) CowBytes Ration balancing Software...
Oct 22, 2024•12 min•Ep. 42
The revised Transportation of Animals regulations require longer and more frequent feed, water and rest stops during long-haul transport. Research data suggests that those rest stops may post a risk to calves. Relevant Links: Do Transport Rest Stops Put Calf Health at Risk (article) Transport (webpage) Stored Forages (webpage)...
Oct 15, 2024•10 min•Ep. 41
Lameness is the second leading reason that feedlot cattle are pulled and given antibiotics. Understanding the cause of lameness is important to making appropriate treatment decisions. Show Note links: Lameness in Beef Cattle (webpage ) Transport (webpage) Mycotoxins (webpage)
Oct 08, 2024•11 min•Ep. 40
Bale grazing is a method of extensive wintering grazing. Cattle graze bales on pastures and hay fields, typically through controlled access by electric fence. Bales can be purchased or grown on-farm and placed strategically in cells or “bale pods.” Show note links: Beat Costs and Boost Yields With Bale Grazing (article) Extended Grazing (webpage) Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage) Winter Feed Cost Comparison Calculator (interactive calculator)...
Oct 01, 2024•6 min•Ep. 39
Knowing which production practices producers are adopting in different regions of the country, which they aren’t (and why) helps us target our producer-focused extension efforts better. The official report isn’t out yet, but here’s a sneak peek at some seasonally relevant results. Show Notes links: Results of the Inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (article) CowBytes ration balancing software...
Sep 24, 2024•8 min•Ep. 38
Although many regions of Canada received rainfall this spring, there are still areas that are experience moderate to severe drought conditions. The following tips and considerations can help to get lightweight calves started off on the right foot. Show notes links: Tips for Starting Lightweight Cattle on Feed (article) Weaning (webpage) Alternative Feeds (webpage) Preconditioning (webpage) Stored Forages (webpage)...
Sep 17, 2024•11 min•Ep. 37
The inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey collected data from six hundred producers across nine provinces on the 2022 breeding season through the 2023 weaned calf crop, as well as reasoning and rationale for some practices. Results will be used to help the BCRC prioritize research and extension strategies funded by the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off to support producers with different types of herds and operations in various regions. Show note links: Results of the Inaugu...
Sep 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 36
When we hear stories of farms from previous generations, mixed operations are often the tradition, where people grew crops and had some cattle and other livestock as well. With economies of scale and farm size increasing, farms have generally become more specialized. However, recent rises in input costs and climate crises such as drought have many producers rethinking integrated farming operations. Show note links: Grazing Cattle on Cropland Can Be Mutually Beneficial (article) The Benefits of B...
Sep 03, 2024•8 min•Ep. 35
As we move into late summer, planning ahead for the coming fall and winter months is always time well spent, especially when considering the nutritional needs of the beef herd. Winter feeding can be costly and labor-intensive work. Show notes links: Strategies for Fall and Winter Grazing: Eastern Canadian Perspectives (article) Extended grazing (webpage)...
Aug 27, 2024•10 min•Ep. 34
Local alternative feeds can be effective and economical additions to beef cattle rations. However, careful management is required to avoid potential problems and to ensure the nutritional requirements of the type of cattle being fed are met. Show note links: Considerations When Using Alternative Feeds – Have You Done Your Homework? (article) Alternative feeds (webpage) Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis (webpage) Economic Value of Feeds (interactive tool) CowBytes (ration balancing software)...
Aug 20, 2024•10 min•Ep. 33
The cattle you raise and the beef they produce are the result of two factors – their genetic potential, and the environment they’re raised in. Show note links: Genomics and Genetic Testing (webpage) EPDs: What Do All Those Numbers Mean?(article) Beef Quality Grading (webpage) Genomics 101 (webinar) Genetic IQ: Defining Traits That Matter in Your Beef Herd (article) Genetics Record Keeping (webpage) Genes Behind The Scenes (article)...
Aug 13, 2024•9 min•Ep. 32
Cattle that consume feeds contaminated with the plant disease ergot can have reduced feed intake, gangrene of extremities, lameness, loss of pregnancy and heat stress. Show note links: Ergot in Feed (article) Mycotoxins (webpage) Feed Quality and Testing (webpage)...
Aug 06, 2024•7 min•Ep. 31
Regional variation in the trace mineral content of forages and soils creates high risk areas where trace mineral deficiencies in beef cattle are more likely to occur. Therefore, supplemental mineral sources need to be provided to prevent production declines, animal health events or reproductive wrecks. Show note links: Nutrition in Beef Cattle (webpage) Be Mindful of Minerals (article) Copper Deficiency Takes Heavy Toll (article) CowBytes Ration Balancing Software Vaccination of the Beef Herd (w...
Jul 30, 2024•13 min•Ep. 30
Polycrops, intercrops, cover crops and cocktail crops are different terms that all encompass planting mixed crop species for livestock feed. Show Note links: Polycrop Potential: 12 Tips for Using Mixed Forage Crops (article) Setting Goals and Adding Diversity is Key for Intercropping (article) Cover Crops (webpage) The Benefits of Bringing Cattle and Crops Together (article) Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis (webpage)...
Jul 23, 2024•12 min•Ep. 29
Across the country, a growing number of dairy-beef cross calves sourced from Canada and the United States are appearing in Canadian feedlots, a sight that has raised understandable concern for many cow-calf producers. One of these concerns has been how their feeder calves will compete for feedlot spaces against less expensive dairy-beef crosses. Relevant links: Dairy-Beef: Shifting From the Parlour to the Feedlot (article) Producing Dairy-Beef: Starting Off on the Right Hoof (article) Carcass Gr...
Jul 16, 2024•10 min•Ep. 28
When making changes to your beef cattle operation, starting with simple manageable steps is the key to long-lasting improvements. This is the case when it comes to the concept of “take half, leave half,” which is a basic rule of thumb for grazing management that can be effectively implemented in any region, in good weather years and bad. Show note links: How “take half, leave half” can be a good approach for grazing (video) Grazing Management (webpage) Optimizing Pasture Health: A Practical Guid...
Jul 09, 2024•7 min•Ep. 27
Today, there are animal injection best practices that have become widely known in the beef industry as “just the right thing to do.” These cattle injection techniques are recommended to help farmers produce safe beef for the consumer and maintain Canada’s high reputation for beef quality. Show notes: The Five W’s of Beef Cattle Injections (article) Vaccination of the Beef Herd (webpage) Vaccine Handling Tips (one-page guide) Injection Best Practices for Beef Cattle (video) Waters Systems for Bee...
Jul 02, 2024•8 min•Ep. 26
One of the major limitations to grazing new paddocks, pastures or intensifying grazing systems, is ensuring cattle have consistent access to clean water. Two Eastern Canadian beef producers offer insights into the water systems that they have implemented on their operations. Relevant links: Water Systems for Beef Cattle (webpage) Water Systems on Pasture (article) Water Systems Calculator (interactive calculator) Rangeland and Riparian Health (webpage) How Quickly Do Water Systems Pay for Themse...
Jun 25, 2024•13 min•Ep. 25
Dr. Bart Lardner and colleagues recently published the results of a forage variety grazing trial conducted at the University of Saskatchewan’s Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence Relevant Links: Grazing Management (webpage) Comparing Tame Forages Under Grazing (article)
Jun 18, 2024•11 min•Ep. 24
Forested rangelands and partially or completely forested areas are widespread in many areas of Canada. The benefits of using forested areas in grazing includes increased pasture acres, temporarily or permanently, while providing protection for livestock from the elements. Relevant Links: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees Forested Rangeland Grazing (webpage) Forest Grazing Management Actions (graphic)...
Jun 11, 2024•5 min•Ep. 23
There are many different methods of rejuvenating or renovating forage stands and strategies vary in intensity, effectiveness, and cost. Breaking old stands and re-seeding forages, while effective, is among the most expensive rejuvenation methods. More producers are opting to improve their older tame pastures and re-seed legumes using a key resource they already have on hand – their cattle herd. Relevant Links: Rejuvenation of Hay and Pasture (webpage) Hooves Not Harrows (article) Subscribe to th...
Jun 04, 2024•8 min•Ep. 22
When stock water appears abundant and water quality has been consistent in previous years, it’s easy to focus on other things but don’t overlook water testing. Poor quality stock water can lead to reproductive inefficiency, poor gains, disease and in extreme circumstances, death. Relevant Links: Test Stock Water and Reduce Worry (article) Sulphate Interpretation for Livestock Use (chart) Acing Your Next Feed Test (video) Water Systems Calculator (interactive calculator) Water Systems for Beef Ca...
May 28, 2024•7 min•Ep. 21
Deciding whether or how to reseed a pasture or hay stand can be confusing, costly and risky. The Forage U-Pick tool can help you make better, less risky choices, more easily. Relevant links: Forage U-Pick Tool (interactive tool) Forage Species (webpage) Drought Resources (webpage) Choosing Forage Varieties Without Getting Lost in the Weeds (article)...
May 21, 2024•9 min•Ep. 20
Effective parasite management is a balancing act. On the one hand, controlling parasites is essential for maintaining cattle health, welfare and productivity. On the other hand, over-use of some treatment methods can lead to parasite resistance, which negatively impacts the long-term health of the herd and can also affect the environment. Relevant links: Body Condition Scoring Tool (interactive tool) Feed Testing and Analysis (webpage) Grazing Management (article) Internal Parasites Impacting Be...
May 14, 2024•7 min•Ep. 19
With increasing input costs and many regions having poor growing conditions in recent years, there is pressure to reduce input costs wherever possible. It is important to make these decisions carefully – sometimes the short-term savings are out-weighed by much greater long-term costs. Relevant links: https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/think-twice-before-cutting-vitamins-minerals-and-vaccinations/ https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/cut-costs-carefully-after-drought/ https://www.beefresearch.ca/blog/c...
May 07, 2024•7 min•Ep. 18
