5 days agoKnow What is in the PastureWith the dry conditions, plant growth has been minimal in many areas. Limited new growth forces animals to find and consume old forage...
Apr 12Feed Cows Well Between Calving and Breeding Season With limited feed supplies this winter, some cows have come through the winter in thin condition. Low cow condition prior to calving...
Apr 6Water Quality and AvailabilityDepending on where the ranch or farm is located, dugouts may have recharged with spring runoff. Northern parts of Alberta had...
Mar 22Screening Pellets in Cattle RationsScreening pellets can replace cereal grains in rations. Before purchasing pellets, there are quality concerns to consider. There are...
Mar 1Quantifying Silage Losses In the previous article, Value of Covering Silage, discussion focused on how uncovered silage quality is negatively impacted during the...
Feb 21Value of Covering SilageCovering a silage pile or pit with plastic requires a lot of manpower and supplies. It is an expense that some producers do not want to...
Jan 31Benefits of Bedding CattleThere are benefits to cattle having access to a bedding pack as compared to animals laying on snow or frozen ground. When bedding is...
Jan 17Adjusting Rations with Temperature ChangesThe lower critical temperature for mature beef cattle is -20 degrees Celsius. This is the point where the heat produced when consumed...
Jan 4Comparing Oats and Barley for Cattle RationsHigh prices and low hay supplies have some producers changing to a straw and grain ration prior to calving. The question then becomes: ...
Dec 28, 2021Feeding Cattle in Cold TemperaturesThe current cold snap occurring across the province is a concern for humans and livestock. Reducing the stress on cattle created by cold...
Dec 1, 2021Buying Grain Screening PelletsThis fall, hay, grain, and silage supplies are limited for many farms and ranches. Generally, extra energy and protein are needed to...
Nov 24, 2021Limitations When Feeding Low Quality Forage to CowsA balanced feeding program is designed to meet the nutritional requirement of the animal. Size of animal, stage of production,...
Nov 16, 2021Ringworm in CattleRingworm is a fungal infection that is most commonly observed on younger animals. Outbreaks generally occur in the late fall and winter...
Oct 26, 2021Processing Grain for CattleGrinding or rolling grain improves digestive efficiency compared to grain that is fed whole to beef animals. But there is a potential...
Sep 28, 2021Limitations of Grazing Stubble FieldsWith forages in short supply and high priced; anything that can extend the grazing season and use home grown feeds will reduce winter...
Sep 14, 2021Optimizing Use of Winter Feed SuppliesWith high feed prices this fall, it is important to get the most out of the cattle rations as possible. Preventing feeding losses...
Sep 8, 2021Feed Testing is Critical to Manage Winter Feeding ProgramsIn dry years, forage yield is lower than normal because the plants are shorter than average. This results in a higher leaf to stem ratio....
Aug 11, 2021Salvage Canola Crops Can Make Good Cattle FeedWith dry conditions in most of the province, late seeded crops, and hailstorms, some canola crops have value as salvage and fed to...
Jul 28, 2021Cutting Annual Crops for Livestock Feed Timing is critical when making greenfeed or silage from drought stressed annual crops. It is better to cut earlier than later. There...
Jul 19, 2021Benefits of Weaning Calves Early With limited pasture growth this summer, stretching the grazing season without harming the perennial forage stand is a concern. In the...