All Resources

Effects of nutrition on beef cow reproduction

Description

The nutritional quality of feeds and forage can have a tremendous influence on the reproductive performance of cattle. This document describes the effect of deficiencies and imbalances of both... More ≫

Description

The nutritional quality of feeds and forage can have a tremendous influence on the reproductive performance of cattle. This document describes the effect of deficiencies and imbalances of both macro and micro nutrients on reproductive performance.

Tags

Agronomic management of stockpiled pastures

Description

Stockpiling pasture is a form of deferred grazing. The producer stockpiles the forage grown during the spring and summer for use when the pasture is in short supply or when cows need fall or... More ≫

Description

Stockpiling pasture is a form of deferred grazing. The producer stockpiles the forage grown during the spring and summer for use when the pasture is in short supply or when cows need fall or winter feed. This practice can mean savings for the producer: harvesting, hauling and feeding costs associated with conserved feed are eliminated; and manure does not need to be removed from feeding areas. Winter grazing on native range is common on the southern prairies. Depth of snow cover frequently limits winter grazing of standing forage in the Parkland and Boreal forest regions. However, the grazing season may be extended by several weeks by using stockpiled forage in late fall and early spring.

Tags

Agronomic management of swath grazed pastures

Description

Feed, feeding, cow management and manure disposal can account for up to two-thirds of the total cost of production in a cow-calf operation. Systems that can extend the grazing season and reduce... More ≫

Description

Feed, feeding, cow management and manure disposal can account for up to two-thirds of the total cost of production in a cow-calf operation. Systems that can extend the grazing season and reduce these costs are of great interest to cow-calf producers. One of these systems is swath grazing.

Tags

Increasing cow/calf profitability using chaff and chaff/straw feedstuffs

Description

Over the years, many cost-conscious cow/calf producers across western Canada have recognized the potential for chaff residues to help reduce the winter feeding costs in mixed farm operations.... More ≫

Description

Over the years, many cost-conscious cow/calf producers across western Canada have recognized the potential for chaff residues to help reduce the winter feeding costs in mixed farm operations. Chaff that has often been considered a nuisance on the grain side of a mixed farm can prove to be a valuable low cost feed alternative on the cattle side. In fact, chaff may prove to work as a win-win solution for both operations, if some basic steps are followed. And nothing is more important than to first recognize that chaff is a low quality feed, suitable only for mature beef cows.

Tags

Winter feeding programs for beef cows and calves

Description

Before making management decisions about feeding beef cattle and calves, producers need to answer the following questions: How much feed is available on the farm? What is the quality of the feed?... More ≫

Description

Before making management decisions about feeding beef cattle and calves, producers need to answer the following questions: How much feed is available on the farm? What is the quality of the feed? What is the cost of purchasing feed and supplements? Do the cows need to gain weight during the winter? Are the calves going into a feedlot or back onto grass? What is the required weight gain from the calves? How will interest rates and overhead costs affect break-evens? Plan a winter feeding program well in advance. Use the tools available to sample feed, and obtain feed test results. A balanced ration minimizes costs and improves animal performance.

Tags

Ration options for beef cows

Description

Producers are always encouraged to have their beef cow feed programs set well in advance of the winter. This is even more important when planning through a challenging time, one that may require... More ≫

Description

Producers are always encouraged to have their beef cow feed programs set well in advance of the winter. This is even more important when planning through a challenging time, one that may require extra feed for extra animals due to volatile or weak markets. In times of high feed prices, planning can also help producers manage and potentially reduce overall winter feed costs.

Tags

Effect of bale processing on particle size and potential feeding losses in hay or bale silage

Description

Round bale processors are commonly used for feeding beef cattle over winter. Feeds with a higher proportion of fines after processing may be more susceptible to higher dry matter and nutrient... More ≫

Description

Round bale processors are commonly used for feeding beef cattle over winter. Feeds with a higher proportion of fines after processing may be more susceptible to higher dry matter and nutrient losses due to trampling. This factor raises the question: what is the effect of processing on particle size distribution in the windrow and potential feeding losses? To answer this question, a study was designed by Alberta Agriculture and Food and Agriculture Technology Center specialists to measure the effect of bale processing on particle size distribution in the windrow. Both dry hay and silage round bales were evaluated, and the findings indicate that bale processing will affect the feed.

Tags

Residual feed intake (net feed efficiency) in beef cattle

Description

Improving the feed efficiency of a beef cattle herd can mean big savings for producers. One way to achieve this goal is to select breeding bulls that are naturally feed-efficient, since 80 to 90... More ≫

Description

Improving the feed efficiency of a beef cattle herd can mean big savings for producers. One way to achieve this goal is to select breeding bulls that are naturally feed-efficient, since 80 to 90 per cent of the genetic improvement in a herd comes through the sires.

Tags

Swath grazing in western Canada : an introduction

Description

Swath grazing is a management practice that can be used to extend the grazing season and to reduce feed, labor and manure handling costs for cattle producers in western Canada. The practice may... More ≫

Description

Swath grazing is a management practice that can be used to extend the grazing season and to reduce feed, labor and manure handling costs for cattle producers in western Canada. The practice may also eliminate or reduce the costs for corral cleaning, manure spreading and feed handling. Annual cereals are seeded in mid-May to early June and swathed from late August to mid-September when the crop reaches the soft to late dough stage and before killing frosts. The swaths are left in the field for the cattle to graze during the winter.

Tags

Beef ration rules of thumb

Description

This fact sheet can both guide producers through a feed test and help them understand the results. With a feed test in front of you, look at the following rules and compare them to the feed test.... More ≫

Description

This fact sheet can both guide producers through a feed test and help them understand the results. With a feed test in front of you, look at the following rules and compare them to the feed test. Remember, these are rules of thumb, which means they hold true most of the time, but variations in management and cow type will affect the end result. These rules of thumb should not be considered a replacement for balancing rations with proven software, but rather an aid to understand the feed and where it fits in the management.

Tags