Production — page 178

Changes in beef grading Beef producers looking at custom feeding or retained ownership should know how changes in the beef grading system might affect their marketing, said Terry Grajczyk, beef and sheep industry specialist at Saskatchewan Agriculture. Beef grading, previously carried out by Agriculture Canada, has been the responsibility of the Canadian Beef Grading Agency […] Read more

Horse stall A new horse stall is available from Behlen Livestock Equipment Group. The Horseman’s Choice stall includes a child-level feed door, vertical bar partitions and smooth edges to prevent injury to animals and people. The swing-out door is designed to allow easy feeding and watering and the low-cut door sill allows children to reach […] Read more

Sheep shopping Saskatchewan’s healthy sheep industry has producers looking to increase breeding stock. But new producers may not be sure what characteristics to look for when buying quality breeders. Colleen Sawyer, manager of marketing and extension, Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board, is also a sheep producer. She recommends new buyers observe the farm flock as a […] Read more

Parasite study Merck Agvet has recently released parasite control study results showing cattle treated with IVOMEC pour-on have greater average daily gain and more efficient feed conversion. The trial involved 6,883 mixed-bred yearlings at a commercial feedlot in Western Canada. The animals were weighed on arrival and randomly divided into two groups. Fecal samples were […] Read more

Roll out the bales With haying season out of the way, many livestock owners are trying to figure out how many bales they will need this winter to feed cows. “Once you know how to figure out the formula, it’s easy to do,” said Susan Markus, beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture. “Working out the number […] Read more

Silo unloader J-Star Industries’ Van Dale division has developed a new ring-drive silo unloader. The Pow’R-Ring silo unloader has the standard features of heavy duty impeller, discharge assembly and saber edge augers that give better performance with less wear in hard-packed and frozen silage. Features include a free-floating drive system with direct coupling positive ring […] Read more

Hay preservatives In the form of acids, nitrogens and enzymes and bacteria, there are 64 registered forage additives, each with a different formulation and use. With the weather the Prairies have experienced this year, producers have been wondering about hay preservatives. “Nitrogens are urea, or ammonia. They are mainly used in silages and enhance fermentation […] Read more

Stubble cutter Recutting tall stubble may be necessary to get the full benefits of zero or minimum tillage. Acme Industries has developed a 30-inch wide stubble cutter that can be pulled by a three-quarter ton truck with hydraulics, or by a tractor, at speeds up to 25 km-h. The knife is the highest part of […] Read more

New research into flax Canadian flax growers could reap the benefits from results of a three-year project looking at simple changes in management to improve production. Research efforts will determine the most efficient ways of managing nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization and of timing herbicide application, given the effects of soil and climatic conditions. The project […] Read more

Protective lens Welders have a few more options for safety glass with the Speedglas XL lens. The lens turns dark the moment an arc is struck, and turns transparent when welding stops. This allows welders to precisely align their electrode before striking the arc. The lens has a 55 x 107 millimetre viewing area so […] Read more