KINSELLA, Alta. – Peter Zahacy came to the feed trial demonstration to
see how far he could stretch his meagre supply of feed. What he learned
was how much he overfeeds his cows.
“I didn’t realize we could bring our cows through with so little feed,”
said Zahacy of Edmonton, adding that all of his cattle are fatter than
the cattle on test at the University of Alberta ranch that are
considered to be in good condition.
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“My cattle are going into winter in better condition than these ones.”
Murray Kerik of Flatbush also learned how much he could limit his small
supply of feed.
“The volume you can reduce is surprising. I knew we fed too much but I
didn’t realize how much. Now we just have to remember it when forage is
plentiful,” he said.
Ed and Eileen Hlus of Innisfree, Alta., said they like to err on the
side of over feeding. Ed likes to give his cattle a little extra.
“We can feed a lot less and not be scared the cows are starving,” said
Ed after the feed trial tour at the University of Alberta ranch.
Sheila Runzen said she learned two years ago how her cattle operation
could get by on less feed during a feed shortage. The tour validated
her thoughts that her cattle aren’t too skinny.
“Our challenge is to take this information and adapt it,” she said.
