The benefits of minimizing stress for beef cattle are wide ranging. The good news is reducing stress is entirely possible. In many cases, inexpensive changes or tweaks can benefit herd – and family – dynamics.

Relevant Links: 

Patience, Silence & Observation – Practical Tips to Reducing Stress When Handling Cattle (article)

Cattle Transport (webpage)

CowBytes Ration balancing Software

The revised Transportation of Animals regulations require longer and more frequent feed, water and rest stops during long-haul transport. Research data suggests that those rest stops may post a risk to calves.

Relevant Links: 

Do Transport Rest Stops Put Calf Health at Risk (article)

Transport (webpage)

Stored Forages (webpage)

Lameness is the second leading reason that feedlot cattle are pulled and given antibiotics. Understanding the cause of lameness is important to making appropriate treatment decisions.

Show Note links:

Lameness in Beef Cattle (webpage)

Transport (webpage)

Mycotoxins (webpage)

Bale grazing is a method of extensive wintering grazing. Cattle graze bales on pastures and hay fields, typically through controlled access by electric fence. Bales can be purchased or grown on-farm and placed strategically in cells or “bale pods.”

Show note links:

Beat Costs and Boost Yields With Bale Grazing (article) 

Extended Grazing (webpage)

Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis for Beef Cattle (webpage)

Winter Feed Cost Comparison Calculator (interactive calculator)

Knowing which production practices producers are adopting in different regions of the country, which they aren’t (and why) helps us target our producer-focused extension efforts better. The official report isn’t out yet, but here’s a sneak peek at some seasonally relevant results.

Show Notes links:

Results of the Inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (article)

CowBytes ration balancing software

Although many regions of Canada received rainfall this spring, there are still areas that are experience moderate to severe drought conditions. The following tips and considerations can help to get lightweight calves started off on the right foot.

Show notes links:

Tips for Starting Lightweight Cattle on Feed (article)

Weaning (webpage)

Alternative Feeds (webpage)

Preconditioning (webpage) 

Stored Forages (webpage) 

The inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey collected data from six hundred producers across nine provinces on the 2022 breeding season through the 2023 weaned calf crop, as well as reasoning and rationale for some practices. Results will be used to help the BCRC prioritize research and extension strategies funded by the research allocation of the Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off to support producers with different types of herds and operations in various regions.  

Show note links:

Results of the Inaugural Canadian Cow-Calf Survey (article)

https://www.beefresearch.ca/survey/

https://www.beefresearch.ca/tools/cow-calf-production-indicators-calculator/

When we hear stories of farms from previous generations, mixed operations are often the tradition, where people grew crops and had some cattle and other livestock as well. With economies of scale and farm size increasing, farms have generally become more specialized. However, recent rises in input costs and climate crises such as drought have many producers rethinking integrated farming operations.  

Show note links:

Grazing Cattle on Cropland Can Be Mutually Beneficial (article)

The Benefits of Bringing Cattle and Crops Together (article)

Grazing Crops (webpage)

As we move into late summer, planning ahead for the coming fall and winter months is always time well spent, especially when considering the nutritional needs of the beef herd. Winter feeding can be costly and labor-intensive work.  

Show notes links:

Strategies for Fall and Winter Grazing: Eastern Canadian Perspectives (article)

Extended grazing (webpage)

Local alternative feeds can be effective and economical additions to beef cattle rations. However, careful management is required to avoid potential problems and to ensure the nutritional requirements of the type of cattle being fed are met.  

Show note links:

Considerations When Using Alternative Feeds – Have You Done Your Homework? (article)

Alternative feeds (webpage) 

Feed Quality, Testing and Analysis (webpage) 

Economic Value of Feeds (interactive tool) 

CowBytes (ration balancing software)