Health & Production

Across Alberta last fall cattle came off pasture light. This is a serious concern, especially when it comes to preparing for and protecting the health of the next generation. We asked beef nutrition consultant Barry Yaremcio for some recommendations to support pregnant heifers through late gestation and calving. Here is his advice. Recognize unique requirements…

The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is adding to its repertoire of valuable calving resources. This month, the organization published videos on esophageal feeding (tubing), colostrum management, and dehydration in calves. Calf 911 – The Ins And Outs Of Esophageal Feeding The video quickly summarizes the supplies needed, the McGrath feeder versus the bag feeder,…

By Heather Smith Thomas Producers may never realize they have a problem unless a necropsy reveals net wrap or baling twine inside the animal Use of net wrap on hay and straw bales carries risks to cattle. Dr. John Campbell, professor of large animal clinical sciences at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, says some…

What is cold stress? All mammals need to maintain their internal body temperatures, averaging 38°C in cattle. However, they don’t need to use extra energy to maintain normal body temperatures when the environmental conditions are within a “thermoneutral zone.” The thermoneutral zone is defined as the range of ambient temperatures without regulatory changes in metabolic…

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) today announced $3 million in funding for the Hay West 2021 initiative. “The Hay West program has been a heartwarming response to a devastating situation,” says Mary Robinson, CFA President. “We have seen farmers come together to help their colleagues across the country,…

U of A team will pinpoint genetic traits that could increase grazing efficiency while protecting pastures. By Bev Betkowski A new University of Alberta research project could help ranchers customize their cattle to the type of pastures they have, creating economic and environmental benefits along the way. Launched this past summer, the research involves tracking…

An initiative supported by the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is looking to help reduce disease risk in western Canadian beef herds. As part of the process, project collaborators would like to hear from you. The link below is to a producer survey which will ask you a series of questions to gather your thoughts…

Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives (MBFI) hosted a webinar in early November, and it’s now available to watch at any time. Here’s the description, followed by the video, from MBFI: Cover crops have the potential to bestow numerous agronomic, environmental, and economic benefits on Prairie farms. Despite this, they are often viewed with skepticism by…

By Lisa Guenther, Editor, Canadian Cattlemen While high nitrates in feeds are more commonly seen in frost-touched plants, Saskatchewan Agriculture staff have been seeing high levels in drought-stressed crops this summer, highlighting the importance of feed testing this fall. “We’ve seen a really wide variety of test results come in, some as high as five per…

“You don’t know what’s hiding in some of those bales sometimes, and you definitely don’t want some of those contaminants.” We all know a few best practices to lower the chances of vectoring weed seeds. We can knock mud off our boots, inspect pets, and clean equipment. But what about when we buy off-farm feed…