livestock nutrition Archives

Beef cows need to have a good body condition score going into the winter.

Early-gestating beef cows need good nutrition

Better Bunks and Pastures: Two-stage use of minerals over the fall and winter can help cows maintain body condition at a better cost

By Peter Vitti December 31, 2024

Late autumn is when many spring calves are weaned and removed from their moms. The remaining cow herd is now in its earliest weeks of gestation and requires a modest level of nutrition. It is an opportunity to feed some of the most cost-effective forage diets. But as time goes on, beef cows’ nutrient requirements […] Read more

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

The nutritional requirements of calved-out first-calf heifers is much different than that of mature cows, yet the feed needs to be presented into a denser post-calving diet due to the heifers’ smaller dry matter intake (DMI) and lower forage gut-capacity.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

First-calf heifers need to be prepared for rebreeding

They need to calve in good condition and then be kept in good condition as they also continue to grow and nurse a calf

By Peter Vitti February 13, 2023

It’s easy to envision beef heifers that give birth to their first calf only as a younger version of mature brood cows. However, they do have extra challenges after calving that must be addressed to get rebred in the next few months. As young animals, giving birth for the first time and nursing a newborn […] Read more

A typical dairy cow needs about one per cent potassium in her daily diet to maintain a number of normal body functions, including good milk and milkfat production.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Feed enough potassium in dairy lactation diets

Dairy Corner: There’s a balancing act between there being too much or not enough K

By Peter Vitti February 8, 2023

It’s widely accepted that excessive potassium (K) fed to a pre-fresh dairy cow may lead to a high incidence of milk fever at calving. However, many don’t realize that once they calve, high-milk-producing cows require lots of dietary potassium. Plenty of research since the 1960s has proven that high dietary levels of potassium promote good […] Read more

Nutritionist Peter Vitti says there is no reason why canola meal can’t be used as an excellent protein source in dairy rations.

Cattleman’s Corner, Dairy Cattle, Livestock

Canola meal as a dairy ration can be excellent soybean replacement

More research is showing improved milk production and quality

By Peter Vitti March 12, 2021

I use a lot of soybean meal in several of the lactating feeding programs I develop for high-milk-producing dairy cows. However, in recent months, the skyrocketing price of soybeans has caused me to reconsider. So, I have replaced a significant portion of soybean meal with canola meal, yet have retained the economics and production in […] 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

General

Federated Co-op buying into ag retailer Blair’s

Central, southeastern Saskatchewan sites to go into new joint venture

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News February 12, 2021

The ag retail arm of the Saskatchewan-based Blair’s Family of Companies is set to go into a joint venture with one of Canada’s biggest co-operatives. Blair’s and Federated Co-operatives (FCL) announced last week they’ve reached an agreement to set up a joint venture which, pending regulatory approvals, will own and operate the seven Blair’s ag […] Read more

Ahead of calving season make sure cattle have an available supply of vitamin A.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Livestock

Serious consequences for cows with a vitamin A deficiency

Treat with an injection, or top up the vitamin/mineral mix

By Peter Vitti December 30, 2020

Early winter is the best time for many beef producers to switch their cow herds to a specialized “winter” vitamin-mineral premix. Gestating cows need more dietary vitamin A as they move throughout the winter and onto the last few months before calving. In this way, nobody gets caught short on providing such an essential nutrient […] Read more

Zinc is an important mineral for many production reasons.

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Zinc is a powerful trace mineral for cattle

From breeding to good feet it plays an important role

By Peter Vitti December 17, 2018

Recently, I was talking to a feed mill operator I occasionally do some beef nutritional work, and he told me many customers are requesting the best level of zinc added into their cattle mineral. We realize many pastures and harvested forage from this summer’s drought might likely be zinc-stressed, so we made sure to formulate […] Read more

Once she calves, this cow's dietary needs will change.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Old school nutrition works after calving

It doesn't have to cost a lot to maintain proper body condition

By Peter Vitti April 11, 2017

Already, I know a few producers have had a couple of sleepless nights checking cows at calving. Most have told me all has gone well, because their cows came through the winter in good shape and were well-prepared for this year’s calving season. Moving forward, they now feed their calved-out beef cows diets which contain […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News