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Tag Archives John McKinnon

Post-calving nutrition: Keep your foot on the gas
Calving, Nutrition

Post-calving nutrition: Keep your foot on the gas

Meeting the nutritional needs of cows that have recently calved

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As we move into spring, calving season is starting for some while for others it is well underway or nearing completion. To this point, your feeding program was likely directed at achieving optimal body condition at calving and ensuring that the nutritional needs of pregnancy were met. The next hurdle is ensuring that your post-calving […] Read more
heifer supplement
Livestock, Nutrition

Unpacking mineral tags

Nutrition with John McKinnon: What’s with the 2:1 in my mineral?

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When I visit with cow-calf operators, I am encouraged to hear that most have a good understanding of the importance of proper mineral nutrition, particularly as it pertains to the reproductive success of the herd. However, when questioned about specifics of what mineral is required for what function or how much of a given mineral […] Read more
Hay and silage day attendees take to the field June 20, 2019, for equipment demonstrations at Manitoba Beef and Forage Initiatives north of Brandon.
Forages, Hay

Don’t let hot air spoil your silage

Silage expert highlights dry matter and nutrient loss at a recent hay and silage event in Manitoba

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If you think you’ve packed that silage enough, pack it again. That’s among the tidbits from John McKinnon of JJM Nutrition Services in Saskatoon as Manitoba farmers prepare for what’s potentially another bad forage year. Late rains, a delayed or even skipped first hay cut, thin stands, frosts and a generally cold spring all have […] Read more
cows eating pellets- Glen Nicoll
Livestock, Nutrition

McKinnon: The math behind animal nutrition lingo

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When I visit with producers about their feeding program, I often get questions on “nutrition lingo.” Examples include questions on the meaning of a mineral or protein supplement tag or how much supplement do you need to feed to achieve an ionophore concentration of 22 or 33 ppm? Such confusion is understandable, particularly when you […] Read more
Yikes ­— another crazy winter!
Forages, Livestock, Nutrition

Yikes ­— another crazy winter!

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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The winter of 2017-18 is shaping up to be full of unexpected challenges, particularly for those wintering cows in Western Canada. Drought, as well as recent wildfires, have caused many producers to scramble for a forage supply. As well, “old man winter” in all his wisdom has arrived early, with November temperatures in the minus […] Read more
Strive for consistency when feeding cattle
Beef Cattle, Nutrition

Strive for consistency when feeding cattle

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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Striving for consistency may not sound like the most exciting goal, but when it comes to feeding cattle, it should be one of our golden rules! Consistency is essential if we want to keep cattle on an even keel and prevent wild swings in intake. This includes consistency in when we feed; how we load, […] Read more
Silage cut too dry can cause overheating resulting in brown or burnt-looking patches.
Beef Cattle, Nutrition

The silage pit has no secrets

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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Last month I wrote about the importance of variety when it comes to seeding barley for silage. When writing that article, I got thinking about the principles of making good-quality silage, particularly in relation to feed quality. What really brought this connection home to me however, was my experiences this past winter where I had […] Read more
Vitamin E and selenium — the odd couple!
Livestock, Nutrition

Vitamin E and selenium — the odd couple!

Nutrition with John McKinnon

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Mineral nutrition is a recurring theme in this column, attesting to the importance of this class of nutrients in the diets of cattle. I have not, however, paid as much attention to vitamins, which, when deficient, can be as limiting to performance and health as many minerals. With this article I would like to specifically […] Read more
Taste-testing during a Canadian Beef Advantage Seminar in Shanghai in 2013.
Livestock, Nutrition

Some thoughts on China’s beef business

Nutrition with John McKinnon, beef cattle nutritionist

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Recently I had the opportunity to visit China and spend some time with beef and dairy producers in this vast and truly interesting country. As this article goes to press in midsummer, I thought it would be interesting to provide you with a few insights into beef production in this part of the world. This […] Read more

Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast

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AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for Aug. 22, 2025

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