forages Archives - Page 3 of 7

New forage harvesters from John Deere

New 18-litre engine powers 9000 series models

By Scott Garvey February 7, 2023

Self-propelled, high-capacity forage harvesters require some serious power under their hoods. In the past, John Deere’s limited range of in-house diesel engines meant the green brand had to turn to engine manufacturers like Cummins to get enough muscle for their largest models. And while their top-end 9800 and 9900 models, which deliver 855 and 956 […] Read more

If your dairy cows aren't doing enough cud chewing it could be a sign of several related problems such as low dietary fiber; reduced feed intakes, poor feed digestion, sub-clinical rumen acidosis (SARA), feet and leg problems, butterfat depression all that can result in poor milk production.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Dairy cows need effective forage fibre

The Dairy Corner: Cud-chewing, or lack thereof, could be an indicator of several problems due to a low fibre diet

By Peter Vitti January 26, 2023

High-producing dairy cows always need a good level of effective forage fibre in a well-balanced lactation diet that not only supports good milk and milk fat production, but promotes good cow health and digestion. Anytime I walk into a dairy barn, I take a minute to watch the cows resting in their stalls. If most […] Read more

The developer of Velcro got the idea from burdock seed heads. While Velcro turned out to be a great thing for consumer products, the burrs that stick to livestock (and humans) are not just a nuisance but can have a negative health and economic impact.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Burdock control is a year-round project

Plants reduce forage production and their sticky burrs can devalue and injure livestock

By Heather Smith Thomas September 14, 2022

Burdock is an invasive plant that causes problems for livestock and crops. The tall burdock plant (a native of Eurasia, brought to North America by seed burrs stuck to imported animals) is a biennial. Burdock flowers in late summer, producing a composite seed head which matures by mid-August in southern areas and later in northern […] Read more

Crops, Forages, Wheat & Chaff

Economic and ecological benefits of annual forages

Q & A with an expert

By Sola Ajiboye August 16, 2022

Q: What can I do with my unseeded acres now the weather is more favourable? A: Flooding and drought at seeding time are common situations that may lead to acres being unseeded to previously planned high-value crops. While crop insurance can provide varying levels of compensation for acres unseeded to long-season cash crops, sometimes opportunities […] Read more

Mature cattle are most likely to experience a magnesium deficiency especially when grazing immature cool-season grasses and lush early growth. They are less able to quickly mobilize magnesium from their bones to meet the body’s needs, and also have a reduced ability to absorb this mineral.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Grass tetany relates to magnesium deficiency

It goes by many names and has many causes

By Heather Smith Thomas June 30, 2022

Springtime brings risk for metabolic and nervous system problems brought on by acute magnesium deficiency. This condition has been called tetany, grass staggers, milk tetany, lactation tetany, winter tetany, wheat pasture poisoning, crested wheatgrass poisoning, barley poisoning, and perhaps others. It mainly affects mature cattle grazing lush forage and is due to deficiency of magnesium […] Read more

Columns, Dairy Cattle, The Dairy Corner

Vitti: A common-sense high-forage diet for dairy cows

It's about finding the proper balance between grain and forage components of the ration

By Peter Vitti May 24, 2022

High-forage dairy diets have become very popular in the last few years. That’s because many dairy producers feared too much grain was being fed to their high-producing cows, causing digestive upsets and lameness. I have reviewed many of these former high-concentrate diets and agree that many were clearly unacceptable to feed. Yet I have also […] Read more

Hunter Goliath turnips can be an excellent forage cover crop, although as the White Lake Colony learned one concern with turnips, especially if there is a high percentage in the forage mix is that the high protein crop “runs through the cattle too fast; the cows get very loose manure”.

Cattleman’s Corner, Crops

Experimenting with irrigated cover crops

Program helps to extend the grazing season while also helping to benefit the soil

By Heather Smith Thomas April 6, 2022

The White Lake Hutterite Colony near Nobleford, about half an hour northwest of Lethbridge, Alberta produces both beef cattle along with annual crops, and in recent years they’ve started looking at growing cover crops under irrigation. Cattle manager Jerry Hofer has been trying several different species to be seeded after taking off soft white wheat […] Read more

Lastiwka sought out efficient cattle genetics, such as Luing-cross cows, that can make use of a variety of forages. And he says fences may not be in perfect shape, but as long as they work that's the main thing.

Cattleman’s Corner, Forages

Short and long-term thoughts on forage management

Some good lessons to be learned from more than three decades of experience of what works and doesn’t work

By Lee Hart March 10, 2022

A farm without a tractor. Some of the fences could use a bit of work. The cows have been known to eat thistles. And the farmer doesn’t hesitate to say “this really didn’t work out the way I planned.” So could a person trust any advice from this operation? If it was any place other […] Read more

Crops, Weather

Saskatchewan forage rainfall insurance to adjust for hot spells

SCIC also expanding crop roster for contract price option

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News February 23, 2022

Saskatchewan forage and corn growers whose crops are insured against below-normal rainfall can expect a beneficial bump starting this year if those crops get cooked in high heat. The Saskatchewan and federal governments on Tuesday announced details for their 2022 crop insurance program — under which average coverage is expected to reach $405 per acre, […] Read more

The nitrate level in a sample of this grass regrowth were somewhat elevated and there was always a risk there could be some “real hot spots” in other parts of the 40 acre field.

Cattleman’s Corner, Forages, Livestock

Play it safe with high nitrates

Proper management of drought-affected forages can reduce the risk to livestock

By Peter Vitti November 22, 2021

This year’s drought taught me many lessons about the dangers of high nitrates in beef cow forage. That is why I recommend that all cow-calf producers test all their harvested forages for nitrates, whatever field it came from. It’s going to be money well spent, whether tests are negative or positive. And if they are […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. grains: Soybeans mixed on doubts over Chinese demand

Tyson Foods to close U.S. beef plant as cattle supplies dwindle

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures dip as Brazilian beef tariffs lifted

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