CNS Canada — Low yields and poor quality have caused Canadian chickpea price quotes to shoot higher. Very little of the crop actually falls under the top grades, however, leaving the bulk of the marketing to take place in the feed sector. “The chickpea harvest has been an unmitigated disaster,” said Colin Young of Midwest […] Read more
Most Canadian chickpeas headed for feed market
Don’t spoil your hay — store it properly
Forage expert offers tips for reducing spoilage, and makes a pitch for having a hay shed
Reading Time: 2 minutes While hay quality varies across the province, how to store that hay for the best results doesn’t. “We’ve got a mixed bag this year,” said provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “Some people cut their hay early, got caught with the rains and had it discolour before it even got into the bales. Others […] Read more
If you’re going to feed hail-damaged crop to livestock, test it first
Doing a feed test ‘is much cheaper than losing an animal,’ says beef extension specialist
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hail damage this summer is approaching an all-time high — and with many producers putting livestock on their ruined fields, the risk of nitrate poisoning is also shooting up. So be sure to do a feed test first, said a beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “A feed test is much cheaper than […] Read more
Save on winter cattle feeding costs
Feeding oats or barley along with straw can be much cheaper than hay
Reading Time: 2 minutes Switching from hay to a combination of straw and grain prior to calving can save about $350 a head during the winter, says provincial beef and forage specialist Barry Yaremcio. “The question then becomes: Is it cheaper to feed oats or barley to the cows?” The answer to that question depends on the price and […] Read more
Philippines rush new GMO rules to avert import disruption
Manila | Reuters — The Philippines is set to issue new rules next month on GMO imports, seeking to avert food supply disruptions when a court-ordered stoppage kicks in as import permits for livestock feed expire this year, government officials said. In a landmark ruling in December, the country’s Supreme Court struck down a 2002 government […] Read more
Pea straw is a feed solution but it presents challenges
How much do you pay for it? And how do you use it in your ration?
Reading Time: 2 minutes A shortage of feed has prompted many producers to bale pea straw. “In travelling around Alberta, it seems that a lot of field pea straw has been baled,” said Mark Olson, unit head of pulse crops with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in Stony Plain. “However, many producers selling or purchasing field pea straw for feed […] Read more
Province creates online listings for alternative feed uses
Reading Time: < 1 minute In response to numerous calls to the Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s Ag-Info Centre about options for alternative use of crops, a new category has been created under hay and pasture listings on the department’s web page. “Called Standing Annual Crop, the new category gives producers the option to list their crops for alternative uses so […] Read more
Fababeans in silage? Give it a shot, says pulse researcher
Nutritionally, fababean silage is a good option — but the return on investment is a question mark
Reading Time: 2 minutes No one really seems to know for sure how fababeans will work in silage — but Robyne Bowness has a few educated guesses. “Fababeans should make a fantastic silage crop,” said Bowness, pulse research scientist with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “Nutritionally for the animals, fababean is a very good option. It’s high in protein, […] Read more
Know your feed before buying supplements
If feed quality, amounts, and animal weights aren’t known, you can’t tell if supplements are required, says specialist
Reading Time: < 1 minute Look at the facts before buying feed supplements, says a provincial beef and forage specialist. “After talking to various retailers, one comment comes out loud and clear,” said Barry Yaremcio of the Ag-Info Centre in Stettler. “Sales of lick tubs, molasses blocks, mineral products, and protein supplements are way up from previous years. But are […] Read more
Expert advice for ergot control
There’s no silver bullet for combating ergot, but mowing grasses near fields and good agronomics can make a big difference
Reading Time: 3 minutes Ergot is a rising threat on the Prairies, and plant researchers are trying to figure out the best way to combat the disease. “Everyone is concerned with fusarium head blight, but ergot is right up there in terms of danger,” said Jamie Larsen, a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge. Rye and […] Read more
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