cattle feeding Archives - Page 2 of 5

Energy needs of cows for reproduction are low, but milk production and body maintenance create need for more feed.

Reproduction planning necessary for this herd’s breeding success

By Peter Vitti February 23, 2024

Last year, I asked a friend who operates a 400-Simmental x Angus beef cow operation about his No. 1 goal, after all his cows dropped their calves by the end of April. He replied that all his mature and young cows should show a couple of strong heats before they are let out with the […] Read more

Crops, Markets

Feed barley under pressure, but opportunities available

Corn downturn likely to keep feedlots looking to extend coverage

By GFM Network News February 22, 2024

Feed barley bids in Western Canada remained under pressure in mid-February amid continued imports of corn from the United States and the relatively mild Prairie winter. However, localized spot opportunities do pop up occasionally.

As many cattle come home from summer pasture with poor mineral status, it is important they receive the proper vitamins and minerals during the winter feeding.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner

Minerals take centre stage in winter ration for beef cows

Prepare a well-balanced blend and make sure they eat it

By Peter Vitti November 20, 2023

As a beef nutritionist, I take a practical approach to formulating overwinter cattle minerals: complement macro-minerals of a nearly all-forage gestating cow diet, meet the gestation cows’ trace mineral and vitamin requirements and put it into a package that most cows will easily consume at a constant daily rate. In this way, I have done […] Read more

It is important to crunch the numbers to determine if backgrounding pays. This may not be the year.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Economics of backgrounding didn’t pencil out

With high feed costs, this example of adding 300 pounds over winter was a losing proposition

By Peter Vitti September 29, 2023

Years ago, I took one of my first beef marketing courses from a professor who wore a clean white lab coat to class. There was nothing wrong with that, but his previous class was a red meat-cutting class. One of the first thing he taught us is how to determine background-feeding profit. If its expenses […] Read more

Proper nutrition ahead of breeding season can play an important part in reducing the risk of cows developing cystic ovaries.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Cystic ovaries — a crime against good reproduction for dairy cows

Proper nutrition plays a key role in reducing the risk

By Peter Vitti January 13, 2022

Cystic ovaries are much like a case of an unsolved bank robbery — its clues have been extensively studied, but there are no direct causes found for the 10 to 25 per cent of incidences in lactating dairy cows. As a dairy nutritionist, I suspect that there are a number of animal and dietary abnormalities […] Read more

It doesn’t have to be a fancy ration, but proper nutrition for cows and heifers after they calve will have multiple benefits down the road.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Invest in a good feeding program after calving

It benefits in rebreeding and also fall-calf weaning weights

By Peter Vitti March 10, 2021

I give nursing beef cow diets a passing grade when they support beef cows to produce lots of milk for their newborn calves and promote growth in postpartum replacement heifers. These diets must also retain their precious body condition (BCS of 2.5 -3.0, on a 5-point scale) so females can get rebred and conceive within […] Read more

A barley crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Barley, Crops, Markets, Spring Wheat

Feed weekly outlook: Barley bids drop ahead of harvest

By Phil Franz-Warkentin, GFM Network News August 7, 2020

MarketsFarm — Seasonal harvest pressure is already weighing on the Canadian feed barley market, with most end users covered for the time being and waiting for the new crop. “We’re seeing buyers fill up” on barley, said Susanne Leclerc of Market Master in Edmonton. Bids were dropping on a daily basis from those still in […] Read more

Regardless of growing condition, all grasses begin to decline in quality this time of year. A proper vitamin and mineral program helps to meet nutrient requirements.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Fall is no time to slack off on a livestock mineral program

Plenty of hidden benefits for overall herd health and reproduction

By Peter Vitti October 7, 2019

Since April, I’ve had the privilege to criss-cross the Prairies to witness the opposite effects of drought and continuous rainstorms upon hundreds of square miles of pasture. In some areas, the pastures were brown, short and by themselves didn’t produce enough feed to support cattle, while other regions were green, lush and had lots of […] Read more

High feed prices are pushing Canadian cattle out of the United States market.
Photo: Thinkstock

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Cattle feeding getting expensive in Manitoba

By GFM Network News August 2, 2019

MarketsFarm – With a looming feed shortage, it has been getting more costly to feed cattle, said Mike Nernberg, marketing representative for Winnipeg Livestock Sales. Nernberg estimated it has been costing about C$4.00 per day to feed an individual animal, which adds up given the amount a feedlot is feeding and for the length of […] Read more

Barley south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Barley, Crops, Markets

Feed weekly outlook: Barley bids soften as attention turns to new crop

By GFM Network News April 11, 2019

MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in the key cattle feeding area of southern Alberta are coming under some pressure, as attention begins to turn to the new crop. “Demand is dropping off here a little bit,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. Feedlots have extended coverage through the spring and into the […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Cattle mixed on technicals, profit taking after tight supply rally

U.S. grains: Corn gains on firm cash markets, big crush supports soybeans

CBOT Weekly: Grain, oilseed futures under pressure

Tag Archives cattle feeding