Forages Archives - Page 17 of 19

Don’t procrastinate in planning next winter’s feed supply

Comparing the relative feed value of different cattle feeding options

By John McKinnon May 12, 2015

As winter slowly gives way and your thoughts turn to calving and seeding, it is understandable that next winter’s feed supply may not be first and foremost on your mind. However, depending on the nature of your operation (hay versus silage versus extensive winter grazing) you may or may not have the luxury of time […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Features

Winterfat, a protein-rich forage for cattle

Well-adapted to the Prairies, this native shrub withstands extreme cold and severe drought

By Debbie Furber April 30, 2015

The native grassland shrub, Krascheninnikovia lanata, is known as winterfat for good reason. Its protein level holds steady around 14 per cent into fall and ranges from nine to 11 per cent throughout winter, with year-long digestibility running between 55 and 65 per cent. That’s more than enough protein to meet the seven per cent […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Features

Ryegrass works for winter grazing cows

The only drawback is some extra birth weight on the calves

By Heather Smith Thomas April 28, 2015

Andy Schuepbach, a registered Hereford breeder in southern Alberta, uses two varieties of ryegrass to provide fall and winter feed for his cattle. The high protein content of these grasses eliminates the need for any other protein source. “We grow barley for silage, and after it’s seeded we seed 10 pounds of a mixture of […] Read more

Barley, Livestock

All barley is not created equal when it comes to livestock feed

By Debbie Furber April 24, 2015

Improving the quality and efficiency of feed was the topic of the day at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference workshop put on by the Feed Coalition, an alliance of Alberta producer associations and research organizations. Alberta alone grows more barley than all of the U.S. and not many know barley quality better than researchers with […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Features

To rejuvenate a pasture focus on legumes and weeds

High-intensity/low-frequency grazing was the most effective system for the grasses to remain competitive

By Duane McCartney April 15, 2015

Graeme Finn and his wife Heather rent 3,200 acres of pasture on long-term lease to graze 1,000 yearlings and their beef cow herd year round near Madden, Alta. They rely on intensive rotational grazing of high-legume and annual crop pastures so you can understand why each pasture was assessed for potential productivity before it was […] Read more

Forages

Getting back to the basics: The fundamentals of good forages

New market opportunities may beckon, but quality remains the key

By Ralph Pearce April 7, 2015

Every time commodity prices start to cycle lower, questions are asked and pencils are put to paper: “Should I start thinking of a cropping alternative?” In Eastern Canada the considerations are often edible beans, identity-preserved soybeans, oats… maybe even barley or flax. But what about forages? The answer can be less than straightforward, depending on […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Forages

Silverbend Ranch shines again

Forages and livestock restore health to a badly eroded farm in Manitoba

By Duncan Morrison April 2, 2015

The moon shines on the bend in the meandering Assiniboine River and reflects a shimmering silver glimmer that illuminates the lush riverside and well up the gently sloped hill toward the farmhouse. Thus the name Silverbend Ranch, or so the story goes. But while the moon may glisten at night, things weren’t always so shiny […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Features

Rotational grazing for beginners

By Steve Kenyon January 23, 2015

I’ve recently had a few newer producers attend my seminars and schools who reminded me that there is still a large part of the farming population who consider rotational grazing to be a completely foreign notion. Not necessarily because they disagree with it, but just simply because they’ve rarely heard about it; and definitely have […] Read more

Features, Forages

Don’t gamble on feed quality

Test so you’ll be prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way, says forage specialist Terry Kowalchuk

By Debbie Furber October 22, 2014

In a survey of Saskatchewan forage last fall 62 per cent of the 200 bales sampled did not meet the energy requirement for a 1,350-pound cow in mid-gestation at -25 C. Only five per cent of the alfalfa, alfalfa-grass, grass and cereal greenfeed bales supplied enough energy to carry pregnant cows through the last month […] Read more

News Roundup

Can cattle be “fattened up” on pasture without grain supplementation?

News Roundup: Virtual on-farm necropsy, VBP animal care module progresses, and calls to suspend COOL

By Canadian Cattlemen Staff September 30, 2014

Forage Can I do that on grass? By Jack Kyle, Ontario forage specialist With increased interest in grass-fed beef, people ask if it is possible to fatten cattle on pasture without grain supplementation. The answer is yes, with a few conditions. When grass finishing animals remember that the market is generally not looking for as […] Read more

Pulse Weekly: Exports down month-to-month

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures surge, hogs up

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn sink to contract lows as large supply weighs

Daily Network News

Pulse Weekly: Exports down month-to-month

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures surge, hogs up

U.S. grains: Wheat, corn sink to contract lows as large supply weighs

Tag Archives Forages

Don’t procrastinate in planning next winter’s feed supply

Winterfat, a protein-rich forage for cattle

Ryegrass works for winter grazing cows

All barley is not created equal when it comes to livestock feed

To rejuvenate a pasture focus on legumes and weeds

Getting back to the basics: The fundamentals of good forages

Silverbend Ranch shines again

Rotational grazing for beginners

Don’t gamble on feed quality

Can cattle be “fattened up” on pasture without grain supplementation?

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

Blogs

Cows ain’t coal

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for August 1, 2025

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