Reading Time: 4 minutes The poplars ringing Adrienne Herron’s wetland stopped growing where her cattle and horses were grazing, and just wouldn’t rebound. That was a real wake-up call for the Innisfail-area rancher. “I was concerned by the impact I was having on this ephemeral wetland with the cows and horses keeping the grass down as much as they […] Read more
Stewardship program ‘putting our money where our mouth is’
For producers involved with the ALUS program, ecosystem services become a type of production like any other
Don’t let livestock graze too early
Reading Time: < 1 minute Turning animals onto pastures while grass plants are still small, succulent, and their second leaf barely fully emerged, may be doing more harm than good. Provincial forage specialist Karin Lindquist said if the grass is bitten before it has reached that three-leaf stage, it is forced to revert back to those energy stores to regrow […] Read more
Green grass and newborn calves a perfect match, says longtime grazer
The list of pluses is long, says Jim Bauer, including easier calving, reduced feed requirements, and calves that outgain their winter-born cousins
Reading Time: 3 minutes Assisting a cow with her calf is much nicer when the weather is pleasant — and matching calving season with the onset of green grass makes you more money, too. “When you can line up that reproductive cycle with the grass production cycle, that’s huge,” said Jim Bauer, an Acme-area rancher and former manager of […] Read more
Tips when feeding unharvested crops
Digestibility, nutrient levels, and presence of mycotoxins are factors to consider before swath grazing or baling
Reading Time: 2 minutes Using overwintered cereal crops for swath grazing this spring — or baling for use as greenfeed next fall and winter — is an option but raises some concerns. “Typically, protein and energy contents are lower in the spring compared to the fall,” said provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “Digestibility of the feeds can […] Read more
PRECISION RANCHING: Manage your cattle from your easy chair
New research points to a future in cattle production where most decisions will be made at the touch of a button
Reading Time: 5 minutes Imagine being able to manage your grazing cattle at the touch of a button and constructing ‘digital fences’ as you move them from pasture to pasture. Or using drones to track your cattle while at the same time discovering the most nutrient-rich forage on your land. These are just a couple of examples of current […] Read more
Five steps for building the right forage mix for your farm
The right mix of forage grasses and legumes will make the most of our short growing season and produce maximum yields
Reading Time: 2 minutes It’s Canada — not New Zealand or Australia — so ranchers here have to squeeze out as much grass as possible to keep up with their competitors in balmier climes, says a federal researcher. And there are a few ways to develop a forage mix to make the most of the shorter season. “The first, […] Read more
What’s your experience with mob grazing?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Do you use adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) grazing on your ranch? Richard Teague from the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at Texas A&M Agrilife Research, is looking for ranchers who use AMP — a.k.a. mob grazing or intensive grazing — to participate in a research study. The Grazing Research Project, which is being co-ordinated and […] Read more
Deciding on cover crop blends
Figuring out what to use in a cover crop blend can be an intimidating process. What species to use? What seeding rate? When should they be seeded? All would influence how the blend would look, work, and the success of it. There is some science involved, but making it work is as much art as[...]
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It pays to have a plan before turning your cattle out on pasture
Bountiful, nutritious forage doesn’t happen by accident — here’s how to plan for success on your ranch
Reading Time: 3 minutes A grazing plan might save you more than you think. Whether it’s a simple or detailed plan, a few key components will not only save your grass, but maybe save you a few dollars in the long run. Adjusting your stocking rate will allow you to get good-quality forage and vigorous regrowth. “Managing the amount[...]
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‘Change’ is the watchword in a warming world, says researcher
Longer summers and milder winters sound nice, but even the pluses come with some negatives
Reading Time: 3 minutes How will the Canadian cattle industry fare if global temperatures continue to rise? Count a reduced feed demand, a longer grazing season, and higher forage production among the benefits — but also expect more extreme weather, pests, and transport headaches, according to University of Manitoba research scientist Kim Ominski. “We know the future of our[...]
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