Publications

Wintering site assessment and design tool : a guide to selecting and managing a wintering site in Western Canada

Description

The greatest environmental risk from wintering sites is the potential for water contamination from runoff carrying nutrients, pathogens and sediments. Also, excessive nitrogen levels in the soil... More ≫

Description

The greatest environmental risk from wintering sites is the potential for water contamination from runoff carrying nutrients, pathogens and sediments. Also, excessive nitrogen levels in the soil at the site increase the risk of nutrients leaching into groundwater sources. Elevated soil nutrient levels can result in subsequent crop production concerns such as lodging or high feed test nitrate-nitrogen levels. Elevated soil nitrogen levels combined with high soil moisture conditions can result in gaseous losses of nitrogen, and ammonia emissions from manure may cause odour concerns.

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Traceability and transporting Alberta cattle

Description

Traceability is a crucial component of an effective animal health and food safety system that enables precise and rapid emergency response to protect livestock, producers and consumers.... More ≫

Description

Traceability is a crucial component of an effective animal health and food safety system that enables precise and rapid emergency response to protect livestock, producers and consumers. Determining where livestock are, where they have been and what other livestock they have come into contact with allows for efficient emergency planning and response. Traceability in Alberta relies on the three fundamental pillars of premises identification, animal identification and animal movement.

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Overcoming RFID ear tag readability challenges (Revised August 2013)

Description

Traceability is generally defined as the ability to follow the movement of an animal or food product through specified stages of production, processing and distribution. In the case of feeder... More ≫

Description

Traceability is generally defined as the ability to follow the movement of an animal or food product through specified stages of production, processing and distribution. In the case of feeder cattle, feedlots contribute to overall beef cattle traceability by tracking the movement of all cattle entering their facilities.

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Feedlot movement requirements

Description

Animal Movement is one of the three components of traceability. Together with Animal Identification and Premises Identification (PID), it provides the ability to trace where an animal has been and... More ≫

Description

Animal Movement is one of the three components of traceability. Together with Animal Identification and Premises Identification (PID), it provides the ability to trace where an animal has been and what animals it has come in contact with over the course of its life. In the event of a disease outbreak, knowing the movement history of an animal is very important in supporting efficient trace-back.

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Management strategies for cattle during dry conditions

Description

During dry conditions, the objective for cattle producers is to "buy feeding days" of forages and/or grazing while maintaining a reasonable level of productivity. Budget projections will involve... More ≫

Description

During dry conditions, the objective for cattle producers is to "buy feeding days" of forages and/or grazing while maintaining a reasonable level of productivity. Budget projections will involve maintaining all, some or none of the core productive asset base: the cow herd. Similar approaches are applicable to feeder cattle operations. In assessing these alternatives, it is important to view them from the decision-making criteria of affordability (cash flow), profitability and desirability (including reversibility and longer term goals).

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Bedding without straw

Description

Proper bedding is an integral part of any beef production system. Here are some information and ideas if your straw supply is limited.

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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.

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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.

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