Reading Time: 3 minutes Monitoring the behaviour of cattle at the feed bunk can help maintain rumen health and improve efficiencies in feedlots. Given crop production costs, feed inputs and time invested in nutritional inputs and ration formulation, producers want to maximize returns wherever possible. “You don’t want to throw out all that hard work by mismanaging the feed […] Read more
Research shows controlled bunk feeding improves feed-to-gain ratio
Consistency in feed delivery, feed mix order and mix time improves feed efficiency
Keep an eye out for drought-caused nutrient deficiency in your cattle
Nutrient deficiencies have ripple effects, including slower gain and lower pregnancy rates
Reading Time: 4 minutes Feeding cattle through last year’s drought was tough enough — but for some producers, its impact on the health of their cattle isn’t over. “The biggest challenge for producers through the drought was finding good-quality feed for a feasible price. A lot of low-quality fibre like straw was fed,” said Courtney O’Keefe, ruminant nutritionist at […] Read more
Choosing the right mineral supplements can be daunting
Whether grazing or on a winter ration, cattle need mineral supplements to avoid health problems
Reading Time: 3 minutes What mineral supplementation do I need and when do I need it? Beef producers might know they should supplement their herds with mineral, but trying to wade through all the choices at the livestock supply store can be overwhelming. Commercial suppliers seem to make claims and offer something different, but with tubs and bags of […] Read more
New beef research chair hired
Reading Time: < 1 minute A beef expert from Brazil will be the first holder of the BCRC-Hays Chair in Beef Production Systems at the University of Alberta. Gleise M. Silva has a PhD in beef cattle nutrition from the University of Florida and in her new role “will collaborate with beef producers, translating research into practical solutions to create […] Read more
Federated Co-op buying into ag retailer Blair’s
Central, southeastern Saskatchewan sites to go into new joint venture
The ag retail arm of the Saskatchewan-based Blair’s Family of Companies is set to go into a joint venture with one of Canada’s biggest co-operatives. Blair’s and Federated Co-operatives (FCL) announced last week they’ve reached an agreement to set up a joint venture which, pending regulatory approvals, will own and operate the seven Blair’s ag […] 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
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
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