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Author Archives John McKinnon

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a mineral for your cattle.
Livestock, Nutrition

Navigating the commercial mineral market for livestock

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By
Are you looking for a mineral this spring and summer? If so, be prepared to navigate through an array of commercial options. Differences exist in the concentration of the macro and trace minerals, in vitamin content, the presence or absence of salt, anti-caking and fly control technology and in suggested daily consumption targets. Unfortunately, when […] Read more
Supplementing minerals on pasture — a necessary evil!
Livestock, Nutrition

Supplementing minerals on pasture — a necessary evil!

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By
Hopefully, as you read this article, “spring has sprung” and pastures across the country are showing signs of early growth. For cow-calf operators, the arrival of spring signifies the transition from winter feeding to a new grazing season. Spring pasture growth is considered an excellent forage source for meeting the nutritional requirements of lactating cows, […] Read more
Choosing an appropriate mineral can help ensure the health and productivity of cattle on pasture.
Livestock, Nutrition

Getting the most out of your grass cattle

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By
As this issue comes to print, we are likely 40 to 60 days away from turning yearlings out to grass. The vast majority of these animals are last year’s calves weaned in the fall or early winter. If we examine how these animals are overwintered, two different management approaches are evident. The first is to […] Read more
Late gestation rations for cows
Livestock, Nutrition

Late gestation rations for cows

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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As I write this column, 2020 is finally in the rear-view mirror. I am sure that I am not alone in hoping that 2021 brings better days and in particular an end to this pandemic that has had such a personal and economic impact on the lives of Canadians. Despite this disruption to normal life, […] Read more
In recent years, consumers have developed a heightened awareness regarding the source of their food, how it’s produced and its environmental impact.
Livestock, Nutrition

Giving credit where credit is due

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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If one were to take a poll of Canadian ranchers regarding their favourite restaurant, my guess is that A&W still would not rank particularly high. A lot of this animosity dates back to the natural beef campaign the company ran over the last five years. Many beef producers felt that this campaign, while extorting the […] Read more
In addition to ensuring the right “feeding situation,” there are several other important considerations when using urea as a protein source.
Livestock, Nutrition

Revisiting the use of urea as a protein supplement

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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Many of you will have noticed that calf prices have been under pressure this fall in part due to higher than expected feed prices. Both feed grains and many traditional protein sources (i.e. distillers grains, pulse screenings, commercial supplements) are trading at prices higher than a year ago. In the face of higher protein prices, […] Read more
Clean, soiled or frozen ears — How do you manage your implant program?
Livestock, Nutrition

Clean, soiled or frozen ears — How do you manage your implant program?

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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In my last two columns, I focused on choosing the right implant for your operation and on options for re-implanting cattle over the course of a production cycle. While these are important aspects of any implant program, equally important is ensuring the proper placement of the implant in the animal’s ear. While this may seem […] Read more
One of the first steps to consider when choosing an implant is deciding on how aggressive you want to be with your program.
Livestock, Nutrition

Choosing the right implant for feedlot cattle

Nutrition with John McKinnon

By
In last month’s column, I covered the various classes of implants currently on the market and traced the development of the technology over the last 50 years or so. With this column, I want to look at some of the factors to consider when choosing an implant for feedlot cattle, with emphasis on the class […] Read more

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