The lingering drought in parts of the Prairies is changing the way some beef producers feed their cows.
Tag Archives Cattle Connect
Drought drives stored feed, byproduct use in cow-calf herds
Total mixed ration mixers help make some byproducts more palatable
Handling equipment can calm cattle
Limiting sight lines and using natural cattle behaviour can help make handling better for both the animals and people
There’s consensus that keeping cattle calmer during handling reduces the stress for the animals and the people managing them.
Cattle producers can manage difficult labours with tested strategies
Dr. Shania Jack, a veterinarian at the Morden Vet Clinic, shares her tips and techniques for dealing with calving dystocia
Manitoba cattle producers can manage difficult calving situations by following some tested strategies.
Proper hydration called key to scours treatment
A study at Lakeland College has found that providing adequate electrolytes and pain mitigation assists in a calf’s recovery
When consulting with their veterinarian on the best treatment for scours, producers shouldn’t forget the necessity of proper hydration.
Enhanced calving biosecurity pays off
Creating a plan to prevent the spread of disease is crucial when cows and calves are more vulnerable to infection
Biosecurity is always of the utmost importance on beef operations. That importance is amplified at calving time due to two groups of animals being more susceptible to infectious diseases: new calves and their dams.
Enzymes eyed as way to improve forage nutrition
Enzymes are used at low levels in poultry feed as well as hog diets, but their use is not standard practice in cattle rations
Emma McGeough, associate professor of animal science at the University of Manitoba, wants to know if enzymes can improve nutrient uptake in cattle that have forage-based diets.
Researchers say the right genes make 100 pounds of difference in cattle
Animals that were identified as higher performers outgained other animals consistently
Kajal Latimer, a scientist, describes the creation of a new genomic tool for commercial cow producers
Producers must take their bulls’ health by the horns
Bulls can be hard to handle, but there are good facilities for examining and treating them. They should be vaccinated for most things you give to cows, with the exception of scours vaccines. Deworming and lice control should always be considered, since bulls get the highest load of flies in summer. When handling bulls, get […] Read more
Management can reduce dark-cutter issues
Cattle, particularly heifers, that are more physically stressed and exposed to aggression are more likely to cut dark
REGINA — Beef carcasses deemed as dark cutters represent a small percentage of slaughtered cattle but a significant discount to producers. A Canada B4 grade reduced carcass value by about $300 at the time of a recent study. According to the Canadian Beef Grading Agency, over the last 10 years the annual prevalence of dark […] 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
