forages Archives - Page 4 of 7

With pastures in some drought affected areas shrivelling up to almost bare ground, feeding cattle is a real challenge.

Finding affordable cow feed to support body condition

Chances are that pastures have just run out, so what do you feed cattle heading into winter?

By Peter Vitti September 28, 2021

Quantity and quality of forage at the end of this summer for beef cows is short. So, where burnt pastures can no longer support the average beef cowherd, whatever forage is on hand with the right supplements might be turned into a sufficient autumn feeding program until winter. The goal of any good fall feeding […] Read more

While it is important to be aware of risks associated with feeding canola forage, it may provide an alternate forage for drought-stricken livestock producers.

Crops, Livestock

Drought-stressed canola possible forage for livestock

It can work as an emergency source, but some risks need to be managed

By North Dakota State University August 18, 2021

Drought stress has resulted in poor canola stands that are unable to be harvested. Poor canola stands may provide an alternate forage option. “Livestock producers facing forage shortages may be able to feed their cows canola, provided they take certain precautions,” says Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “While canola makes palatable feed, it may […] Read more

Percentage of average precipitation in Western Canada for the 90 days ending April 5, 2021. (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada map)

Crops, Forages, Weather

Manitoba forage, grassland growers burned by drought

By GFM Network News April 9, 2021

MarketsFarm — An ongoing lack of precipitation, which is showing no signs of letting up in the coming months according to weather forecasts, is already causing problems for Manitoba’s forage and grasslands. Growers in the province have had to deal with three straight years with lower-than-normal precipitation. In 2019, multiple rural municipalities in Manitoba’s Parkland […] Read more

Erin and Paul Kernaleguen have found that a change in forage production practices on their Saskatchewan farm has helped to reduce costs and benefit dairy production.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Forages

Dairy farmers see multiple benefits from forage blends

Input costs have been reduced and more acres returned to crop production

By Heather Smith Thomas April 6, 2021

Dairy farmers Paul and Erin Kernaleguen near Birch Hills, Sask. say they’re convinced about the value of regenerative farming practices in growing forage crops for their cattle. They farm with Paul’s parents, Jos and Brenda Kernaleugen. “We were a conventional operation until 2012 when we started looking at doing things differently,” Paul says. “Our average […] Read more

Jerry Baerg out checking cattle as graze on chaff piles — all part of keeping nutrients on the field.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Cattle important to regenerative ag program

Producer finds that cattle and crops can complement each other

By Heather Smith Thomas February 17, 2021

Jerry Baerg farms grain and cattle in central Alberta near Linden. He grew up on the family farm and worked with his dad, then worked off farm for a while. On his return, he bought into the farm and began farming full time. While attending a soil health/grazing conference five years ago, he began thinking […] Read more

Loose-cornstalk residue left in the field for grazing cattle has a different nutritional value than cornstalk bales.

Cattleman’s Corner, Forages, Livestock

Cornstalk bales can have a fit in beef diets

It’s not amazing feed, but with proper testing it can work in winter rations

By Peter Vitti December 2, 2020

A few years ago I was visiting a small cow-calf operation and as I approached the house I noticed that there were rows of snow-covered round bales that literarily looked like baled alligators. The producer told me he baled left-over cornstalks within days of harvesting grain corn, and said that it took a couple of […] Read more

This photo was taken July 25,2017. It is a good quarter section that has changed hands and belongs to an absentee owner. It was “planted down,” and the result a few years later was a decent stand of bromegrass. This looked like a fair seed crop. But it was later baled as a hay crop.

Columns, Crops

Les Henry: Fertilizing for forage yields

For higher grass yields, fertilize it like a crop

By Les Henry March 11, 2020

We often hear “plant it down” when a field is not performing well for annual crops. That may mean simply planting some grass and accepting hay yields determined by the moisture in a given year. It is not uncommon for such stands to perform poorly and then be utilized as pasture. There are many situations […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Molasses lick-tubs for cattle can fit different needs

A useful tool for both good and poor pastures

By Peter Vitti August 12, 2019

Recently, a friend who operates a 400-head cow-calf operation drove through a quarter section of one of his pastures. He told me he made a few stops and pulled up some grass and several roots were brittle. Hundred of kilometres away, another beef producer told me his pastures had lush grass after a couple of […] Read more

Summer bale grazing may work during the dry grazing season.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Another transplanted grazing idea

Report from Down Under: Bale grazing may have a fit in an Aussie summer

By Kim Nielsen April 1, 2019

Editor’s Note: Keep in mind seasons in Australia are reversed: spring — September to November; summer — December to February; autumn — March to May, and winter — June to August. In my last article, I shared the trials of our swath-grazing attempts on our farm here in Australia compared to what we had done […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Forages, Livestock

Five tips for grazing corn this winter

By Beef Cattle Research Council November 16, 2018

Corn grazing is becoming more popular across Canada because producers can grow more biomass on less land. If you are planning on grazing corn this winter, here are five tips to help you make the most of the corn grazing season:

GFM Network News

Prairie forecast: A temperature rollercoaster and the possibility of snow

Nestle quits global alliance on reducing dairy methane emissions

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures gain on higher beef values, tight supplies

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