Stock photo of corn silage. Alltech’s feed testing reveals a higher mycotoxin risk in Western Canada than previous years, and corn silage seems to be higher risk across the country.

Alltech’s mycotoxin testing rates corn silage as riskier in 2024

News Roundup from the December 2024 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Alltech’s 2024 Canadian Harvest Analysis revealed significant regional variability in contamination levels in silages and grains, said the company in a press release. Early harvest testing suggests corn silage may be a higher-risk commodity across Canada, says Alltech. Barley may have a greater prevalence of mycotoxins, and in higher concentrations, than wheat. At press time, […] Read more

With appropriate protein (and possibly energy) supplementation, corn stover could be a useful feed for wintering pregnant cows.

Comparing feed performance in pregnant cows

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

Last month’s column featured a University of Saskatchewan research trial that used high-moisture corn grain, snaplage or silage to partially replace barley grain or silage in finishing diets. While the steers were in the feedlot, this team wintered cows on the corn stover. See: Performance and ruminal fermentation of second-trimester pregnant beef cows fed short-season […] Read more


cow drinking water at a dugout

How to detect polio in cattle

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Polio, or polioencephalomalacia, in cattle is not considered infectious, but rather a pathological condition — a diagnostic term describing necrosis of the brain’s grey matter. Clinical signs include: When first described, polio existed primarily as a thiamine deficiency but is now recognized as a metabolic disease involving several factors. Animals exhibiting signs of polio suffer […] Read more

Ergot is best recognized in the field as black or dark purple sclerotia sticking out of a floret.

How the problem of ergot in cereals was solved in Alberta

In the story of ergot in wheat, barley and oats, the answer was simply ‘copper’

Glacier FarmMedia – When I was first hired by Alberta Agriculture as a diagnostic plant pathologist, I was told I would be primarily responsible for barley, oat, wheat and canola diseases. I was also asked to head up the provincial control program for bacterial ring rot of potato. The bacterial ring rot program, run in […] Read more


Vet Advice: Vibriosis

Vet Advice: Vibriosis

Vibriosis is an important venereal disease of cattle caused by the organism Campylobacter fetus. Some refer to the disease as campylobacteriosis. In sheep, it may be referred to as enzootic abortion, not associated with venereal transmission as much as ingestion of contaminated water and feed. Typically, the disease causes female infertility, with an increased number […] Read more



Dr. Digvir Jayas. (University of Manitoba photo)

Acclaimed Manitoba stored grain researcher now Alberta bound

Digvir Jayas named president at University of Lethbridge

A leading Canadian researcher and expert in safe storage of grain is headed westbound and up to the head office at another Prairie university. Dr. Digvir Jayas, currently on sabbatical as professor and vice-president (research and international) at the University of Manitoba, will become president and vice-chancellor at the University of Lethbridge effective July 1 […] Read more