Livestock Management
The diligence of Manitoba producers in cracking down on porcine epidemic diarrhea is being credited for the quick detection of a related illness. Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) has been confirmed on one farm in the southeast, the Manitoba Pork Council has said. It’s not good news — no barn infection ever is — but PDCoV doesn’t […] Read more
Livestock Management
Draft horses are susceptible to unique health challenges
Once the mainstay of prairie agriculture, draft horses are now much less common. The most familiar breeds on the Prairies include Belgiums, Percheron, Clydesdales and Shires. Horses, including draft breeds — and also thoroughbreds — can suffer from a disorder of the larynx. Nerve damage inactivates the muscle that normally opens and closes the left […] Read more
Antibiotic resistance rare in weaned calves
Western Canadian research study finds resistance in only two per cent of the weaned calves that were sampled
Glacier FarmMedia – If a new piece of western Canadian research is any indication, few weaned calves ready for the feedlot are carrying medication-resistant passengers. The project was focused on bacteria and viruses that can contribute to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). It found antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in just two per cent of sampled calves from […] Read more
Cattle sector aims to break the cycle
Open rates were horrendous in Western Canada last fall: what can producers do to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself?
Glacier FarmMedia – Many beef producers got an unpleasant shock at last fall’s preg check, and experts are weighing in on what can be done to avoid a similar problem this year. According to a report from the Western Canadian Animal Health Network (WeCAHN), more than 40 per cent of some herds were found open. […] Read more
VIDEO: Cutting edge livestock feed research
Emily Burton of Nottingham Trent University in the UK discussed “responsible innovation” in an era in which nutritionists are facing expectations that their work can lead to major improvements in greenhouse gas and other emissions from livestock. “The pressure on us . . . is enormous,” she said. Burton urged fellow nutritionists to engage with […] Read more
New forage barley variety promises improved yields
AB Maximizer, a relatively new variety developed by Western Crop Innovations, also promises better disease resistance
WINNIPEG — Field tests across the Prairies have identified a new star in the world of forage barley: AB Maximizer. Results show the new variety has higher yields and stronger disease resistance and matures earlier than established varieties like CDC Cowboy. AB Maximizer is a relatively new variety developed by Western Crop Innovations, formerly known […] Read more
Poly crop grazing has benefits but also pitfalls
Planting a variety of forage crops in the same field can be successful, but it’s important to watch for potential dangers
REGINA — Poly crops have become a popular way to feed cattle, but more research is needed into the nutritional properties of the plants in each blend. Jennifer Hayden, a livestock and feed extension specialist from North Battleford, Sask., said poly crops can provide relief to pastures, especially during drought. They can be grazed, baled […] Read more
Respiratory disease linked to the gut
Scientists try to find out if giving calves a probiotic before they enter the feedlot will prevent bovine respiratory disease
WINNIPEG — Over the last decade, scientists and doctors have established a connection between gut health and brain health. They’re realizing that the community of bacteria within the intestine can influence mood, cognition, behaviour and other things that are normally associated with the brain. “The gut-brain connection is complex and bi-directional,” says the Cleveland Clinic […] Read more
Ag Canada updates software that estimates emissions
Producers can input beef production information and pasture data to learn how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Agriculture Canada is updating the model that farms and ranches can use to estimate agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The Holos model has been around since 2008, and its most current model, version four, since 2020, but the fifth version is now in development. At the Sustainability of Canadian Agriculture Conference, hosted by the University of […] Read more
Where does your herd rank among cow-calf benchmarks?
Productivity and health data in cow-calf herds is recorded in a variety of ways; everything from sophisticated software programs and spreadsheets to the traditional calving book that may get filed in a drawer once the calves are weaned. However, we know that keeping and evaluating herd data can help you make better long-term decisions and […] Read more
