It’s no surprise that drought was the most common theme when the Beef Cattle Research Council put together a list of its Top 10 blogs for 2021.
The website of the council was, after all, created to help producers “make informed decisions about their production practices” and so half of the Top 10 articles offered tips on feeding, early weaning, culling or other drought-related matters.
But an underlying theme of several articles, including one in the No. 1 spot, was challenging producers to consider whether some common practices still make sense.
Read Also
Farming Smarter receives financial boost from Alberta government for potato research
Farming Smarter near Lethbridge got a boost to its research equipment, thanks to the Alberta government’s increase in funding for research associations.
That was the case for the top tip in the top article on the list: Don’t try to resuscitate a calf by hanging it over a gate or upside down.
“Every once in a while we kind of uncover a stone and realize that there’s a new, better way to do things that makes more sense,” Dr. Adam Schierman says in a video accompanying the ‘Calf 911’ article.
(In the video, Dr. Claire Windeyer of the faculty of veterinary medicine at the U of Calgary demonstrates how to put a calf into a recovery position and other methods to getting it to draw a breath.)
No. 3 on the list doesn’t offer that sort of clear-cut advice but rather encourages producers to consider all the pros and cons of using a bale feeder versus bale grazing in the field (with a further breakdown comparing the pluses and minuses for rolling out bales or not).
The Top 10 list also contains an article that falls into the category of ‘working on the business instead of just in the business.’
The article on the “most profitable post-weaning choice” is about how to use a calculator created by the council on preconditioning and backgrounding.
“While backgrounding may not be an option of many producers this year due to tight feed supplies, now might be a good time to start thinking if this strategy fits your operation,” states the article, which was published during the always-busy harvest season.
The article uses the example of an Alberta producer planning to wean calves at 550 pounds in mid-October and whether any of four backgrounding periods (30, 90, 120 or 180 days) would make financial sense.
The answer, in this theoretical case, is ‘no’ based on numerous factors (such as average daily gain, shrink, feed, vet care and yardage). But the calculator also shows that a relatively small change can have a big effect. In this case, backgrounding pays off if feed costs decline by about eight per cent (to $2.40 a day from $2.60 a day).
The complete Top 10 list (starting from No. 1) is:
- Calf 911 — New Video Demonstrates Effective Calf Resuscitation Strategies
Also has tips on ensuring newborn calves have adequate colostrum and using electrolytes for dehydrated calves.
- Salvaging a Crop? Here are Some Things to Consider When Valuing a Crop for Feed
Has a link to a calculator for calculating costs for both beef producers and crop farmers.
- Bale Feeding Options: Pros and Cons of Common Strategies
Has easy-to-read infographics on the benefits and drawbacks of three bale-feeding practices.
- Winter Feed Cost Comparison Calculator — Managing Variable Costs
Shows how to use a calculator that can map out costs when using alternative feeds.
- Beef Cattle and the Carbon Cycle
Offers explainers and a detailed look on topics that are increasingly part of the public discussion of the beef sector, including greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration.
- What’s the Most Profitable Post-Weaning Choice for your Calves?
The cattle price index database embedded in the calculator has been updated with the latest five-year (2016-20) provincial data.
- Patience, Silence & Observation — Practical Tips to Reducing Stress When Handling Cattle
Along with expert advice — such as why ‘slow is fast’ — there are a host of tips from producers including Lance Neilson, Pat Kunz, and Craig Lehr from Alberta.
- Seeing the Forest Through the Trees: Tips for Forest Grazing Cattle
Has highlights for grazing forested rangelands from the council’s very detailed web page on this topic.
- Tips for Starting Lightweight Calves on Feed
Also outlines the case for working with a qualified nutritionist.
- Decision Making During Drought
This article is a sign of what a bad year it was. It came out in mid-August and the first topic covered is culling.
The full article — ‘What A Year — Top 10 Articles From The BCRC Blog In 2021’ — can be found at beefresearch.ca.
