CALGARY – A group of forage scientists has formed a co-operative research team to get practical information to producers sooner.
Agriculture Canada and Alberta Agriculture signed a beef-forage research agreement in 1993. This spring the two governments integrated researchers and support staff at the Lacombe Research Station to study forage production in the parkland zone of the Prairies and the British Columbia Peace region. Some of the researchers will work half their time at Lacombe and the rest at district agriculture offices.
“We’re trying to put together a group of people who can put the whole system together,” said project leader Bob Nelson.
Read Also
Growth plates are instrumental in shaping a horse’s life
Young horse training plans and workloads must match their skeletal development. Failing to plan around growth plates can create lifelong physical problems.
Research will be guided by an advisory committee made up of beef and forage producers. The first meeting among group members will be in June, said Nelson.
A main issue to be studied is reducing the cost of forage and beef production to produce high quality meat. Researchers will look at the overwintering cost of a beef herd, how to extend grazing systems, improving pasture quality and matching cattle to forages. Forage research programs will eventually come under this group’s mandate, said Nelson. Additional projects will get under way in 1997.
