As I travel across Western Canada, I see more beef producers raising Holstein steers in their feedlots. Years ago, I didn’t think of Holstein steers as potentially profitable cattle, because I had a lot of misguided prejudices. However, my attitude did a complete “180” turnaround when I started working with a few successful Holstein producers […] Read more
Feedlot Holsteins need powerful feeding programs
With proper ration and management, dairy steers make good beef
Avoid giving your baby calves gut aches
It takes time for a calf stomach to develop to handle certain feeds
I visit literarily hundreds of dairy farms across Canada each year. On most, pre-weaned dairy calves are raised away from the main lactation barn or older replacement heifer facilities. Whether these baby calves are housed in hutches, group pens or brand-new calf barns, when I find a group of calves that are sick and not […] Read more
Controlling liver flukes in beef cattle
Parasite often not identified until after an animal dies
A couple of years ago, a beef producer from southeast corner of Manitoba showed me a test tube filled with water. It contained a worm that was about three inches long, one inch wide and flat enough to almost see through. He told me that it was a deer liver fluke that the vet had taken it […] Read more
Beware of grain bloat in self-fed cattle
Feed roughage and avoid very fine grain particles
Self-feeders are both a blessing and a curse. A handful of self feeders makes life a lot easier by augering in tonnes of creep or grower ration into each one for growing beef cattle. They can also be a curse when a few cattle become victims of grain bloat. Since nobody wants to lose animals […] Read more
Old school nutrition works after calving
It doesn't have to cost a lot to maintain proper body condition
Already, I know a few producers have had a couple of sleepless nights checking cows at calving. Most have told me all has gone well, because their cows came through the winter in good shape and were well-prepared for this year’s calving season. Moving forward, they now feed their calved-out beef cows diets which contain […] Read more
Controlling hairy heel warts in dairy cattle
A clean barn is part of preventative measures
Since the new year, I have travelled to many dairy farms across Western Canada and conducted a personal survey about lameness in dairy cattle. At each visit, I asked producers “What was their biggest cause of hoof problems?” Almost unanimously, their answer was “hairy heel warts!” This is no surprise, since multiple surveys conducted over […] Read more
Dairy Corner: How to optimize dry matter intake
Assess what’s happening at the feed bunk, supply proper ration
There is only one way I know to supply the essential nutrients to high-producing cows to yield large volumes of milk, milk-fat, milk-protein and solids — assure dairy cows optimize dry matter intake of good feed is at its best. As a dairy nutritionist, I am so convinced each bite of lactation diet counts that […] Read more
Trace minerals directly affect unborn calves
If the cow isn’t getting sufficient minerals calf development and strength suffers
Within the next few months, there will be a lot of newborn calves on the ground. Fair- to good-quality forage is quite plentiful this year and grain is a reasonable price, so most of the cow herds I have seen across Western Canada this winter are in good body condition for calving. But one area […] Read more
Poor corn residue may need supplement
The wet fall can reduce feed quality of corn residue, create mould
In the last few years, many beef producers have taken advantage of corn residue as part of their cow herd’s overwintering feeding program. It’s a low-cost feed and for the most part, because early-gestating cows are allowed months of grazing without much trouble. Unfortunately, this wet fall has presented many challenges in feeding lower-quality corn […] Read more
Pre-weaned calves need extra water
Dairy Corner: Satisfying thirst also promotes good dry calf starter intake
Feeding milk replacer or whole milk does not provide enough water for growing pre-weaned dairy calves. Young calves have a natural requirement for water which is often higher and separate than what is provided by most milk-based feeding programs. By providing all the water needed, calves adapt to dry calf starter quicker, grow faster and […] Read more
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