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Grant Lastiwka looks at all the forage growth from this bale-grazed area on his farm. Cows were fed hailed-out barley bales on this area this past winter.
Features, Livestock

Bale grazing and pasture rejuvenation

Forage extension veteran Grant Lastiwka shares his winter-feeding strategy and explains how it fits into his year-round grazing system

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Grant Lastiwka eats, sleeps and dreams forages. As one of Canada’s most enthusiastic forage extension specialists, Lastiwka is the go-to man for information on year-round grazing management. Past winner of the Alberta Forage Industry Network (AFIN) Leadership Award and former livestock and forage business specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lastiwka has had an illustrious […] Read more
Jay Cross of Okotoks, Alta. is Sendero’s founding chair and Virgil Lowe of Nanton, Alta., is the company’s CEO.
Features, Livestock

Sendero seeks continuous improvement across supply chain

New program offers improved efficiency and profitability by improving data flow through the beef value chain

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Continuous improvement opens the doors to greater possibilities, as the cattle producers behind Sendero Limited know well. By working to improve efficiency at each stage of production, this innovative new program offers tools to increase profitability across the beef supply chain. “All of our founders have been in the business for generations, and we’ve always […] Read more
Les Halliday finds cull potatoes to be highly palatable to cattle. Like any feed, they need to be introduced slowly. To avoid choking hazards, they should be chopped or ensiled before feeding.
Features, Livestock

Making food waste work in your feeding program

There are several benefits and challenges to weigh when introducing food waste as a feed source

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When customers visit Mike Buis’ on-farm retail store to purchase beef, they often ask what unusual product he’s feeding his cows that day. “It keeps it interesting,” says Buis, who farms at Chatham, Ont., and feeds cull vegetables and processing byproducts to his herd. “They need to almost drive directly by the feed bunk to […] Read more
The preconditioning study includes 250 calves raised at W.A. Ranches and fully preconditioned, along with another 250 purchased, conventionally weaned calves.
Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

Study delves deeper into preconditioning calves

Researchers are exploring disease prevention, economics and performance benefits on feeder calves

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Though the practice of preconditioning calves is relatively well known, not everyone agrees on the definition of the term. Confusion over what preconditioning entails may be partly to blame for reports of inconsistent returns on investment, says one researcher. “To me, it’s way more than just optimizing a vaccination protocol,” says Dr. Karin Orsel, veterinary […] Read more
Fertility, calving ease, good udders, mothering ability, good feet and legs, robust health and temperament are top traits to look for in cows when trying to build a profitable operation.
Features, Livestock

Developing the right cattle for profitable ranching

Whether you’re culling cows or selecting bulls, look for the animals that can perform in your environment

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For too many years I was like most of you. I thought profitable ranching started with the cattle. Truly profitable ranching starts with the soil, moves through the plants to feed the animals and then finally we manage the animals to provide a good profit. We will talk about soil and plants in later articles, […] Read more
How does your feed measure up? This livestock nutritionist decodes the numbers.
Features, Forages, Livestock

A closer look at your feed test

A ruminant nutritionist provides us with an in-depth look at a real-life feed test for hay

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In a year like this, feed testing is “prudent,” says Courtney O’Keefe, ruminant nutritionist with Blue Rock Animal Nutrition at Innisfail, Alta. “It’s going to help you make those decisions and balance that ration accordingly.” O’Keefe takes us through a recent feed test (see example below) for mixed grass-legume hay, noting that nutritionists tend to […] Read more
When asking lenders for money, make sure you know your expected revenues, expenses, net worth, cash flow and how you’ll make payments. Don’t be afraid to ask lenders questions, especially around ratios.
Features

Financing for first-timers

Two bankers offer tips for young producers preparing to talk to a lender

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Getting prepared to meet with a banker to get a loan can be fraught with anxiety, especially if you’re young, eager to build a cattle business, and don’t have a lot of financial experience. Canadian Cattlemen talked to two experts about how to better equip yourself for success. “First and foremost, I’d want to know […] Read more
Larkspur, which contains many toxic alkaloids, can affect the next year's calf crop if gestating cows eat enough of it at the wrong time. It's just one example of toxic plants found in some regions in North America.
Features, Forages, Livestock

Unconventional: Salvaging crops and feeding weeds during drought

Whether you’re eyeing a flax crop or baling ditches and sloughs, here’s what you need to know about alternative feeds

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In drought years it’s often challenging to provide adequate forage for cattle. Sometimes producers use alternative feeds which might include drought-stressed or salvaged crops. Dr. Bart Lardner, professor in the department of animal and poultry science at the University of Saskatchewan, says some of the drought-stressed crops that might be available include annuals such as […] Read more
Holly Sparrow’s experience on her family’s mixed farm sparked a passion for raising high-quality beef while protecting the environment.
Beef Cattle, Features

Focusing on the big picture

Whether it’s managing the cow herd or lobbying on Parliament Hill, Holly Sparrow is in a learning frame of mind

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Even for those raised on a ranch, there’s always a learning curve in the beef industry. Third-generation rancher Holly Sparrow is leveraging what she’s learned on the farm and in school with her work and board experience to climb that curve. Sparrow’s passion for the beef industry is rooted in her experience on her family […] Read more
Dr. Volker Gerdts, director and CEO of the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).
Features, News

Livestock research a high priority for VIDO

COVID has highlighted the need to connect human and animal health, and for resources to address pandemics in either sphere

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Canada’s ability to rapidly respond to emerging human and animal diseases was given a $59.2 million shot in the arm last fall in the federal budget, due to the pandemic. The funding is going to the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). It, combined with $15 million from the province, $250,000 from […] Read more

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