Researchers put alfalfa, sainfoin, birds-foot trefoil, cicer milkvetch, meadow bromegrass and orchard grass to the test
Which type of pasture plants do steers prefer? Bart Lardner decided to find out. The researcher at the University of Saskatchewan grazed steers on small plots to see how several different forage species performed under grazing conditions. The treatments consisted of different varieties of alfalfa, sainfoin, birds-foot trefoil, cicer milkvetch, meadow bromegrass and orchard grass. […] Read more
Melissa Jeffers-Bezan
Stories by Melissa Jeffers-Bezan
Producers urged to use forage rainfall insurance in Sask.
Program insures pastures when precipitation is 80 percent of normal during drought years, but few ranchers participate
There are a lot of misconceptions about the Forage Rainfall Insurance Program, an official with the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. said recently. She attributes this to the program being around for decades and changing over time. “Some people who were participating in the program 25 years ago and have given up on it because they […] Read more
Livestock eye monitor can help producers predict illness
A Canadian company plans to soon release a monitoring device that can be used by both large and small producers
A Calgary company aims to bring remote monitoring to cattle for early detection of illness. HerdWhistle is releasing new products in 2024, aiming to reduce labour for producers and increase the capacity to identify illness. Jack Behan, CEO of HerdWhistle, says the new product known as the BigEye can tell if an animal is sick […] Read more
Sask. hosts virtual fence pilot project
The technology will mostly be tested in a forested lease and producers want to see how it will work with rotational grazing
A Saskatchewan rancher is ready to test virtual fencing on a large scale in tough conditions. John and Deanne Chuiko own and operate CJ Ranching near St. Walburg, Sask. They have about 400 cow-calf pairs and 400 yearlings. A pillar of their operation is holistic management and rotational grazing and their forested land lease. The […] Read more
Forage blends benefit swath grazing
Winter feeding trial studies virtual fencing as well as potential of moving away from using only one crop in swath grazing
A Lakeland College researcher says he wanted to investigate using forage blends in winter swath grazing systems to ease producer hesitancy. Obioha Durunna, who is now in the third year of the study, says he was also prompted by the limited information available on backgrounding weaned calves in such systems. Durunna says producers are reluctant […] Read more
Genetics and management help herd efficiency
Improved genetics aren’t the entire solution to beef improvement, but they give producers better control over production systems, says a beef genetics professor. Bob Weaber of Kansas State University, spoke at Canadian Western Agribition during the Canadian Beef Breeds Council (CBBC) annual general meeting about how genetics correlate with sustainability.“I think that the challenge for […] Read more
Junior Beef Extreme winner at the end of junior career
The BMO Junior Beef Extreme at Canadian Western Agribition has 70 classes and about 100 junior exhibitors
At the interbreed female beef show at Canadian Western Agribition, the animals shown must be owned by the junior or their family. The champions from each breed return on the last day of the show for the announcement of extreme female champion, in the BMO Junior Beef Extreme. This year it consisted of 70 classes […] Read more
Lonesome Dove Ranch finds success at Agribition
Tara and Ross Davidson and their family came away from Canadian Western Agribition with wins on several fronts. On Nov. 23, their Lonesome Dove Ranch was named the 2023 Purebred Gelbvieh Breeder of the Year by the Man-Sask Gelbvieh Association. Other Agribition coverage: VIDEO: Simmental, Hereford top show First Nation establishes market garden Strong sales […] Read more
VIDEO: Agribition ends with successful Beef Supreme
Six days of Agribition came to a close on Saturday, November 25th, with the annual Beef Supreme event and the final night of the Maple Leaf Finals Rodeo. Kim Hextall, president of Agribition, said they have been hearing many positive things from attendees and the international guests who flew out for Agribition. “People have visited […] Read more
VIDEO: Lonesome Dove named Gelbvieh Breeder of the Year at Agribition
Lonesome Dove Ranch was named the 2023 Purebred Gelbvieh Breeder of the Year at Canadian Western Agribition on Nov. 23. Canadian Cattlemen field editor Melissa Jeffers-Bezan caught up with the winners, Tara and Ross Davidson of Ponteix, Sask., to talk about how it feels to be selected by their fellow seedstock producers and why they […] Read more
