Acidosis prevention is especially critical during the transition to high-grain diets when cattle enter the finishing phase in the feedlot.

Rethinking transition diets for finishing cattle

Feed additive shows promise for accelerating dietary transitions in feedlot cattle

Among the most prevalent diseases in feedlot cattle, ruminal acidosis ranks second only to respiratory diseases in contributing to morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Given its effect on animal welfare and profitability, preventing acidosis remains a key focus in feedlot cattle research. In this month’s column, we want to discuss the role of transition diets […] Read more


cattle eating from a trough in a feedlot

Reducing ration sorting by feedlot cattle

Cattle sort their feed based on a variety of factors

Diets fed to finishing cattle in Western Canada typically consist of more than 80 per cent barley grain and less than 15 per cent forage on a dry matter (DM) basis, along with minerals, vitamins and byproducts. These diets are inherently dry, enabling separation of individual ingredients at the time of delivery and as cattle […] Read more

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


cows grazing corn on a pasture in winter

Winter feeding tips for beef cows in late gestation

Transitioning late gestation cows to higher-quality forages is a good strategy

As we begin the New Year and enter the coldest months, many beef cows are in the final third of their gestation period. This is when the fetus experiences its most significant growth. To support this development and ensure the birth of a healthy calf, it is essential to provide the cow with proper nutrition. […] Read more



close up view of beef cattle in a feedlot

Big cows and big questions

Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen

August’s column talked about how genetic selection for growth rate and carcass merit has resulted in heavier carcasses with better marbling scores. New genetics get to the feeder and packer through the bulls that cow-calf producers buy from seedstock producers. These new genetics also leave fingerprints on the cow herd as they pass through. If […] Read more

Canadian researchers are looking for backgrounders and feedlots willing to participate in a survey covering everything from cattle feed to weight gains.

Study aims for finishing benchmarks for beef cattle

Glacier FarmMedia – If you’re a feedlot or backgrounding operation manager with an hour to spare, a group of Canadian researchers wants your help.  The team behind the Canadian Feedlot Benchmark Study says their survey, now underway, will help create a national benchmark database of backgrounding and finishing practices used in herds across Canada. The […] 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