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Beef 911: The pros and cons of hormone-free beef programs
Beef cattle, Livestock

Beef 911: The pros and cons of hormone-free beef programs

There’s a lot of confusion about these programs — here’s a take from a veterinary perspective

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With all the terms we are hearing in the beef industry — such as organic, natural, hormone free, sustainable — there is no doubt confusion even for you the producers trying to raise cattle to fit into these programs. Most of these branded or niche programs are trying to differentiate themselves from the traditional ways
Older, larger calves that have been preconditioned and have received 
pre-weaning vaccinations will have a better chance of staying healthy
in the feedlot.
Livestock

Keeping calves healthy upon entry to the feedlot

A career veterinarian offers production advice in keeping calves healthy in the feedlot

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Prevention is the best cure for feedlot losses, producers attending a recent backgrounding and feedlot school in Brandon were told. “Not only are we trying to keep calves alive, we are trying to keep them from getting sick altogether,” said Wayne Tomlinson, an extension veterinarian with Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. “We can’t do
Cows crowded in pen, Alberta, Canada
Livestock

Beef 911: Factors which can contribute to bullers in feedlots

Close observation and working with your vet on a customized plan are key to dealing with this problem

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Bullers are, fortunately, a rare, sporadic occurrence in western Canadian feedlots and backgrounding operations. When dealing with cases of steers mounting other steers, one must bear in mind the economic loss to the entire pen when frequent riding occurs. Because the incidence is so sporadic (one to six per cent in U.S. feedlots), no hard
Preconditioned calves pay big dividends after decades
Livestock

Preconditioned calves pay big dividends after decades

Preparing calves for the feedlot reduces antibiotic use and 
improves feed efficiency and animal health

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While preconditioning your calves may not always put extra dollars in your pockets, it’s good for the health of the entire beef industry. That was the message from veterinarian Cody Creelman during a recent Beef Cattle Research Centre webinar. Preconditioning includes anything a producer does to a weaned calf that reduces shrink and chance of
Livestock

Should you precondition your cattle?

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While preconditioning makes sense from a health perspective, it’s far from standard practice. In fact, a western Canadian cow-calf survey found only nine per cent of producers preconditioned in 2013. And those who do typically have a clear financial incentive, said Canfax Research Services manager Brenna Grant. “Frequently, producers consider preconditioning when they have extra
Clayton Robins opened his farm for a tour in mid-August to explain the benefits of his high-energy forage grazing system.
Beef cattle, Livestock

Putting grazing theory into practice

Clayton Robins suggests a grazing system of high-energy 
forage can hone the best gains while regenerating pastures

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Following years of research and the publication of a Nuffield study, Clayton Robins is now seeing the results of implementing a high-energy forage system on his own farm. “The greatest hurdle to the forage-fed beef enterprise lies in the difficulty in providing an adequate level of diet energy, especially in the form of a low-cost
cattle on a pasture
Beef cattle

McDonald’s makes progress with sustainable beef pilot project

McDonald’s is looking for cattle producers throughout Canada to 
participate in pilot project looking at the sustainable production

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McDonald’s Canada representatives may soon be visiting Manitoba cattle farms as the company moves forward with a pilot program designed to increase the amount of beef it sources from sustainable suppliers. “This verification program is open to anyone across Canada who wants to participate. We have had some interest from Manitoba already. One Manitoba producer
calves in a feedlot
Beef cattle, Comment

Beef industry travelling to a different drummer this year

After an extraordinary year in which all animal industry saw higher prices, beef stands alone in the continuation of lower production

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2014 was a special year for the animal production industries with record-high farm-level prices for cattle, hogs, broilers, turkeys, milk and eggs. For 2015, a surprisingly fast expansion of poultry, pork and milk production will cause lower prices for those commodities. Beef stands alone in the continuation toward lower production, but prices remain uncertain. In
overhead view of cattle auction
Livestock

Antimicrobial use in feedlots could be slashed, say experts

Simple management changes, like pre-weaning vaccinations, can greatly increase immunity in cattle

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The livestock sector could significantly reduce and in some cases, eliminate, antimicrobial use with simple changes in management practices, say veterinarians. And that would reduce the threat of antimicrobial resistance and boost consumer confidence in the cattle industry. “The key is to have animals that are properly vaccinated,” said Craig Dorin of Veterinary Agri-Health Services.
feedlot cattle eating hay
Beef cattle, Livestock

Keeping feed consistent key for cattle rumen health

Cattle — and microbes in their rumens — need a consistent supply of both dry matter 
and nutrients to improve performance and reduce digestive diseases

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Cattle feeders aren’t just feeding cattle — they’re also feeding the microbes that live in the rumen. And those little critters are picky. “Regardless of the production system, the challenge that we face is variation in dry matter intake and total nutrient intake,” said Greg Penner, assistant professor of animal and poultry science at the

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