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Beatriz Montenegro Gonzalez was inspired by conversations with her ranching partner to look at how to supplement straw-based diets during drought.
Beef Cattle, Foraging

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

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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
Many of the alternative feeds available in Canada arise as byproducts of the cereal, oilseed and pulse processing sectors.
Livestock, Nutrition

Cattle feed: A tale of two countries

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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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
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
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
Pea straw has higher protein levels than oat, barley or triticale straw.
Cereals, Forages, Peas

What to consider when choosing alternate cattle feed sources

Anything from pea straw to cull potatoes can help producers plug the feed gap

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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
Calves coming into the Western Canadian market this fall will be similar to year-ago levels.
Finishers, Market talk, Markets

Feeder cattle outlook

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

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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
As part of his plan to provide alternative feed options for his cattle, one Ontario beef producer arranged with a neighbour to graze his cows on 100 acres of corn stalks.
Beef Cattle, Features, Livestock

The benefits of alternative feed options

Continuous improvement leads to big cost savings

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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

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