On any given day, dairy producers should know how much feed lactating cows are eating. The key to filling the milk bulk tank is finding ways to promote good consistent feed consumption, because there is no substitute for good dry matter intake (DMI) when it comes to producing milk. The first rule of milk production […] Read more
Good DMI Is Key To Milk Production – for Sep. 6, 2010
Reduce The Cost Of Heat Stress – for Jul. 23, 2010
Given the relatively cool summers we’ve experienced on the Prairies in the last few years, it hard to believe that parts of Western Canada can easily have weeks of very hot weather until the beginning of September. Unlike most of us, cattle raised on a drylot do not have the luxury to move out from […] Read more
Don’t Underestimate Water Needs
Given that water constitutes about 65 per cent of a nursing beef cows’ body and her milk is made up of about 87 per cent water, it’s no stretch of the imagination to appreciate water is very important for life and good beef cow production. Finding a good water source for beef cows (as well […] Read more
Is It Worth Creep Feeding Calves?
It’s hard to believe that winter is finally over. It wasn’t a particularly bad winter as western Canadian winters go, but it was winter all the same. An early warm spring was not only welcomed, but embraced by many people. Likewise, most cow herds across the Prairies also came through winter in decent body condition, […] Read more
Go For Best Spring Cow Mineral
At this time of year, many people are looking for a good spring cattle mineral that will fit into their immediate post-calving feeding plans and can be fed well into the breeding season. Buying the right cattle mineral is a matter of finding one that meets the cows’ essential macro-and trace-minerals as well as vitamins […] Read more
Good Post-Calving Ration Needed
You’ve invested in feeding your cows properly throughout the winter, so they’ll calve out in the right body condition and reward you with a healthy newborn calf. Once, your sleepless calving season nights ends, it’s a good idea to continue feeding your beef cows, a good post-calving ration for the next couple of months. Adequate […] Read more
Five Over Winter Feeding Tips
Our recent mild and extended autumn (in November) might have given a false sense of security that somehow most post-weaned cows are in great body shape, and they will be able to carry this condition into calving time; no matter how they’re fed or managed. However, in the back of our minds, we know this […] Read more
Straw Works In Beef Cow Rations
Record low spring and summer temperatures, severe drought in some parts, while other areas were soaked with continuous rains, and with the occasional snowstorm thrown in, describe this years’ growing season across the prairies. Wishing for global warming hasn’t helped. Good quality forages particularly alfalfa and mixed grass hays are in short supply for feeding […] Read more
First-Calf Heifer Rations
By now, most replacement heifers are coming off their winter feeding programs and producers should be getting them ready for this year’s breeding season. Depending how well these animals fared during the last six months should determine what we can do for them over the next two to three months until they are bred. It […] Read more
Pros And Cons Of Spring Calving
There was a time when most commercial cow-calf operations started the calving season in the beginning of February and had it was wrapped up by the end of March. Cows were released onto pasture when the weather got warmer; the cows milked and their calves grew. Cows were rebred before the heat of the summer, […] Read more