Peter Vitti

Navel infection (omphalitis) can often become a chronic debilitating problem in newborn calves. Once infected, treatment is often long term and can be unrewarding. The initial cause is bacteria invading the umbilical cord resulting in infection right at the umbilical stump. The two arteries, two veins and urachus (duct leading from the fetal bladder) all can […] Read more

Profitable cow-calf operations achieve a calf crop of more than 90 per cent, while herds struggling to meet a threshold calf crop of 85 per cent will likely not meet most production expenses. The root of reproductive success often lies in cows consuming proper post-calving diets, which encompass a good supply of essential trace minerals. […] Read more

When it comes to native grass pastures, does rotational grazing itself really benefit the grass? With any system, the problem is not the cow, but the manager

Most, if not all, range management professionals present rotational grazing as the definitive answer to virtually any range management problem they face. Briske and Brown (2011) noted this situation has persisted since the turn of the 20th century when American range ecologists and government agencies sought effective ways to improve the range health of rangelands in the […] Read more

It might not be an exact science, but the barnyard and boot study of manure is a simple reflection of the dairy diet being fed, how it is consumed, digested and finally pushed out onto the alley. When dairy cows defecate, we can get a pretty good idea as to their nutritional status by observing […] Read more

Alberta and Saskat-chewan still grow millions of acres of barley, but Manitoba broke a 30-year-old record in 2012 by planting 300,000 acres of harvested grain corn, which easily surpassed the previous high of 225,000 acres in 1981. On a Prairie-wide basis, barley is still the major feed grain crop with about 6.3-million acre harvested in 2012. However Manitoba planted […] Read more

Since essential mineral and vitamin status of many brood cows were run down by the the summer drought in parts of Western Canada, it is important producers do not overlook the value of good mineral intake particularly at a time of year when good mineral consumption is very important — just before calving. Good mineral […] Read more

Most baby dairy calves are extremely vulnerable to the threat of disease in the late fall or in early winter, as any arctic chill magnifies the shortcomings of a feeding program and living conditions. To avoid a disaster, these milk-fed calves need to be placed on a higher plane of energy nutrition and assured a […] Read more

It’s been a rough summer for growing many crops in Western Canada, despite some official reports of a bountiful harvest. Some parts of the western Prairies had a cool-wet growing season, while eastern areas were baked by drought. Such polarized weather is ideal for toxic accumulation of nitrates in forages. Fortunately, nitrate testing of forage […] Read more

Feeding Holstein steers for the beef market has swung from a sideline to full-scale operations in Canada. Favourable economics of this venture often coincide with the regular beef feeder market or are inversely scaled with lower grain prices. Many people buy newborn bulls, either to be raised and resold to grower or finisher feedlots or taken right […] Read more