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Focusing on the big three calf conditions will pay
Beef cattle, Livestock

Focusing on the big three calf conditions will pay

Beef 911: Scours, pneumonia or navel infections are commonplace but their incidence can be reduced

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Most experienced cattle producers will have had an increased incidence in one of the three main calf diseases we see on ranches across Western Canada. These can be smouldering problems and occur year after year. I have spent many a time over my career discussing treatment of scours, pneumonia or navel infection (and then, ideally, working on
Keep a close watch for these issues when calving
Beef cattle, Livestock

Keep a close watch for these issues when calving

Beef 911: Recognizing the signs of trouble and acting quickly can be a true lifesaver

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This column is my attempt to summarize the many ways we can hopefully maximize calf survivability and productivity starting at calving time. Each of you will have different management styles, strategies, and numbers — but if there are one or two new things, techniques, or observations you can learn from, the read will have been
There are a host of factors to take into account if you’re thinking of changing your calving season, but the main question to answer is: What works best for you?
Beef cattle, Livestock

The right time for calving depends on your farm — and you

While many producers are calving earlier, some have gone the other way

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Calving season looks different on every operation — there is no one right method or time of year to calve a cow herd. While more producers in Western Canada have moved to later calving, some have gone the other way. Here are the experiences of three ranching families. Late-summer/fall calving Taralea Simpson has been calving
Getting ready ahead of time can help ensure a successful calving season.
Livestock, News

Prepare for spring calving

A few simple steps can set your operation up for success

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Planning and preparing for the calving season can help not only minimize calf losses but also improve calves’ performance, according to North Dakota State University Extension livestock specialists. The nutrition status of the calving herd is one issue to consider in preparing for the upcoming spring calving season. “Although this should be an earlier concern,
Colin Palmer uses his PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera system to monitor calving pens. The camera system is a step up from his first forays into fixed-view cameras and allows him to read ear tags from up to 140 feet away.
Farmit Manitoba, Livestock, Local news

Producer’s key to calving is only a click away with camera system

Calving cameras promise to de-stress the most stressful weeks for livestock producers


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Colin Palmer no longer fits the image of the sleep-deprived, anxiety-ridden beef producer when calving starts — despite having more than double the cattle he did a decade ago. Instead, he is losing fewer calves, spending less money on gas and steps off his farm near Saskatoon more lightly in spring, since he can pull
Spotty cellphone connection and internet service might be an issue for producers wanting to stream video via a calf surveillance system.
Farmit Manitoba, Local news, Other

Cow cams may fall short without tall towers

Failure to connect: Like anything involving video transfer, calving cameras will need good internet and cell service to transmit an image of the calving pen off the farm

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Cow cams may promise peace of mind but, like most things connected to data agriculture, they also bring up the perennial challenges with rural internet. Rural internet is an obstacle for the farmers wanting to adopt cow cams, Colin Palmer (a producer and speaker on cattle surveillance systems) admits. He has reaped the benefit of
Many pastures had a hard start to the season, and veterinarians warn that open rates might soar as a result.
Beef cattle, Livestock

Poor pastures cast a long shadow, despite recent storms

The province has gotten rain, but poor nutrition could affect the next calving season

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Veterinarians warn that the dry start to the season may come back to roost when producers start pregnancy checking this fall. Why it matters: Poor winter rations followed by poor pastures may mean a hard calving season next year. Dr. Carl Reesink, of the Fisher Veterinary Clinic in Fisher Branch, says he is worried about
This winter’s snowfall and bone-chilling temperatures have created difficult calving conditions.
Beef cattle, Livestock

Winter calving requires diligence

There are risks to both winter calving outdoors and indoor births

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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
Serious consequences can result from not providing pregnant cows with enough protein during the winter.
Beef cattle, Livestock

Protein key for pregnant cows

Keep your cows in their best shape with proper feed

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Underfeeding protein to stock cows through their winter gestation has serious consequences, a North Dakota State University Extension livestock expert warns. “If insufficient protein and nitrogen are provided and degraded in the rumen, forage digestion will be reduced and the cow may not meet caloric needs and lose weight,” says John Dhuyvetter, Extension livestock systems
When cows are making milk for calves, their own nutritional needs are higher too.
Beef cattle, Livestock

Feed the cow, feed the calf

Ensuring that cows receive adequate nutrition after calving is critical

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The most crucial time for your cows to be fed right is right after calving. “The first 60 to 90 days post-calving is the most nutritionally demanding period in the production cycle of a cow and arguably one of the most important in achieving production goals,” says Janna Kincheloe, the North Dakota State University Extension

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