Reduce the risk of scours and other early-life problems for calves with these tips
Protect your calves from scours, especially during the first days of life. The majority of scours, or diarrhea, cases occur when calves are three and 16 days old. Untreated calves essentially die of shock from a loss of fluids, say production specialists from North Dakota State University. “Calf scours are most often associated with infectious, […] Read more
Profits aren’t the only kind of green the province hopes to court with its protein strategy
Manitoba isn’t going to just produce more protein, it’s also going to do it more sustainably. That’s one of the top goals of the provincial government’s much-heralded protein strategy, unveiled for consultation earlier this winter. The question that raises, of course, is what that buzzword is going to mean in practice. Pasture potential Carbon sequestration […] Read more
The first 60 to 90 days post-calving are the most nutritionally demanding period in the production cycle, and the expectations for a cow at this time are many
Calving season is in full swing, and the first 60 to 90 days post-calving are the most nutritionally demanding period in the production cycle, according to two North Dakota State University animal scientists. “The expectations for a cow at this time are many,” says Janna Block, livestock systems specialist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center. […] Read more
Cattle producers must face cold weather extremes to see healthy calves
Success for a cow-calf producer is related to the ability of the producer to wean one healthy calf per cow each year; a set of twins is additional dollars in the bank. When that calving season is done varies, but the objective of any operation is to try to keep the calving interval as short […] Read more
And just as importantly, what kind of water are we talking about?
An excerpt from a Beef Cattle Research Council blog post on the environmental impact of beef production. For the full text, visit beefresearch.ca. Yes, it takes water to produce beef, but in the 2.5 million years since our ancestors started eating meat, we haven’t lost a drop yet. Based on the most recent science and […] Read more
Beef 911: We’re reducing stress, using early disease detection, and improving animal welfare in a host of ways
One only has to take a step back to see the advances the cattle industry is making. This article is a small overview of some of the major ones I have seen. Canada is unique because the different seasons require different management strategies and our distances are great when it comes to stress of transportation. […] Read more
As winter wears on, many cattle producers are faced with a continual lice infestation in their herd
Some producers have treated more than once and still are seeing the effects of lice in their livestock. “We are experiencing lice populations that are apparently much more difficult to control than previously,” says Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian. “We cannot be sure as to the reason for reduced lice control, but […] Read more
What good are growing exports to producers who are starting to struggle to pay the bills?
The breaking news is that 2018 U.S. beef exports hit new records. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) wrote that 2018 beef exports “shattered the previous value record and achieved a new high for volume,” and, “Export value soared to $8.33 billion, breaking the 2017 record by $1.06 billion — an increase of 15 per […] Read more
Farmers already had little margin for error with stretched feed going into winter
Manitoba’s feed supplies are running low, with little to tide producers over after a dismal harvest last year and cold weather in January and February. Ration plans already left little margin for error, said Ray Bittner, Manitoba Agriculture livestock specialist in the Interlake. Producers in the northwest, which had better moisture and hay harvest last […] Read more
There are risks to both winter calving outdoors and indoor births
Winter calving can lead to health risks for the newborns, North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists caution. This winter’s heavy snowfall and dangerous wind chills have created calving conditions that are difficult to manage and put the ears, feet and life of newborn calves at risk. However, calving indoors also has its drawbacks. “When […] Read more
