
Tag Archives alternative feeds

Researcher examines straw-based cattle diets
Years of drought inspired grad student to look into ways of supplementing straw with flax and canola screenings so producers can retain more cattle during tough times
The latest stretch of drought spurred graduate student Beatriz Montenegro Gonzalez to examine the potential of wheat straw as cattle feed in tough economic times. It was a chilly June day when Gonzalez, along with several other researchers, presented at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence field day near Clavet, Sask. As people filed […] Read more

Cattle feed: A tale of two countries
Nutrition with John McKinnon
Throughout my career, I have had numerous opportunities to meet and talk with beef producers across Canada and in countries such as Mexico, China, New Zealand and Japan. However, until recently I never had the opportunity to interact in an extension setting with American producers. That changed last month when I gave a presentation to […] Read more

Making food waste work in your feeding program
There are several benefits and challenges to weigh when introducing food waste as a feed source
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

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
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

Feed weekly outlook: Alternatives in greater demand
MarketsFarm — Price increases for feed barley and wheat in Western Canada have caused more feeders to look elsewhere for sustenance for their livestock. Prices over the last year have shot up 25 to 40 per cent, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. “Any time you run into a high-priced commodity market, the cost of feeding […] Read more

What to consider when choosing alternate cattle feed sources
Anything from pea straw to cull potatoes can help producers plug the feed gap
With a hay shortage looming across much of the Prairies, many cattle producers will need to look further afield for feed. There are numerous options for alternate feeds, such as salvaging hail-damaged or stressed crops. Nitrate toxicity is a concern if the crop was highly fertilized with nitrogen, but Barry Yaremcio, beef and forage specialist […] Read more

Feeder cattle outlook
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
It’s that time of year when I receive many calls from cow-calf producers and backgrounding operators inquiring about the feeder cattle market outlook for the fall and winter. Yearling prices have been quite strong throughout the summer and the deferred live cattle futures are reflecting slightly higher prices in September and October. Prices for calves […] Read more

The benefits of alternative feed options
Continuous improvement leads to big cost savings
Mike Buis says that his approach to his vertically integrated beef business is to make “one new mistake every year” — the keys being “one” and “new.” “If we’re not making at least one mistake a year, we’re not trying hard enough to do different things,” he said. Buis has a fourth-generation farm with 300 […] Read more

Forage supplies starting to dip on dry Prairies
CNS Canada — Forage supplies are starting to dwindle across Western Canada following a long, cold, winter and rain is needed soon to make for a good forage crop this year. “People tended to kind of blend hay this year and they managed to get through. But the prolonged cold spring really I think put […] Read more