Cattle eating hay during the winter

Now is the time to beef up the cow herd

Make sure cows are at their optimum body condition score at calving and keep it going for the rest of the year

Make sure cows are at their optimum body condition score at calving and keep it going 
for the rest of the year

If your spring-calving beef herd is on the thin side, now is the time to get them back into proper condition before calving season, says a long-time western Canadian livestock nutritionist. Cows in less-than-optimum body condition at calving will not only raise calves with poor performance but it also increases the risk of the cows […] Read more


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

Many livestock producers who grow, manufacture or mix feed on-farm for their own animals continue to be exempt from the new regulatory requirements, which largely affect the commercial feed industry.

What do the modernized ‘Feeds Regulations’ mean for cattle producers?

The long-awaited “Feeds Regulations, 2024,” were published on July 3, 2024, marking the most significant legislative change for the livestock feed sector in 40 years. Industry and government stakeholders worked collaboratively to modernize these regulations for over a decade. This work was motivated by a need to better align Canada’s regulatory framework with modern-day industry […] Read more


Calves creep feeding on a commercial beef operation in the U.S. Producers with fall-calving herds may want to consider creep feeding calves.

Creep feeding when fall calving

For producers who are fall calving, creep feeding might be a viable option to supplement the diet of nursing calves

For cattle producers who are fall calving, supplementing the calves’ diets is often important, given the state of forages at that time. This is where creep feeding comes into play. For some cattle producers, while their grain-producing neighbours are in the fields taking the crops off, they are walking on foot through their pastures, searching […] Read more

cattle in a feedlot during winter

Compacted concrete makes for drier, easier-to-manage feedlots

It’s a big investment, but return on investment can be about six years

When Rimrock Feeders purchased the former Western Feedlots site outside of High River, Alta., there were decisions to be made about the site, which had been empty for about three years. The pen partitions were wooden and decaying and there were drainage issues on the site, which sits on a high point, with a view […] Read more


corn cob in a husk

Forage and feed at Ag in Motion

I’m interested in knowing what farmers and ranchers are focusing on, especially given the recent drought years. Rejuvenating drought-stressed forage stands? Trying cover crops or something else new to them? Stockpiling feed and forage for the next drought? Something else entirely?